Mwinyi dreams for FIFA-class stadium

ZANZIBAR: THE Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (SMZ) has announced a plan to build a state-of-the-art stadium that adheres to international standards set by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This ambitious project aims to establish Zanzibar as a prime destination for hosting major football tournaments, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Hussein Ali Mwinyi revealed the initiative during a meeting with officials and players from Simba SC at the State House in Zanzibar.

The Dar es Salaam based club had visited the President ahead of their upcoming Tanzania Mainland Premier League match against Azam FC, scheduled for tonight at 8:30 pm at Amani Complex Stadium.

President Mwinyi emphasised the government’s commitment to making Zanzibar a venue for significant football events and highlighted Zanzibar’s appeal as a tourist destination, renowned for its beautiful beaches, rich heritage and museums, and noting the potential of leveraging sports to enhance tourism in collaboration with key stakeholders.

“Our goal is to host CHAN and AFCON matches here in Zanzibar,” he stated and in addition to the stadium project, the government is dedicated to improving sports infrastructure throughout the region.

“We are working on upgrading and developing sports facilities that meet international standards across all districts to attract major tournaments to Zanzibar,” President Mwinyi added.

During the meeting, he praised Simba SC for its initiative to establish a soccer academy in Zanzibar aimed at nurturing young talent and assured the club of government support by providing land for the academy’s construction.

The President also encouraged sports clubs across Tanzania to play more matches in Zanzibar, as he believes the move will strengthen the country’s sports sector and inspire youth participation.

“Zanzibar has an abundance of young talent, especially in football, that needs to be developed to produce top-level players for both their teams and national squads,” he remarked.

On his part Simba SC Chairman Murtaza Mangungu expressed the club’s commitment to promoting Zanzibar on international stage through sports tourism and also commended President Mwinyi’s efforts to develop sports infrastructure across Unguja and Pemba islands, highlighting the role of sports in fostering peace and unity among citizens.

Recently, Simba SC qualified for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after eliminating Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli by 3-1 goals on aggregate.