Live up to modern times, swimming leadership told

Participants at the just ended national swimming forum in Dar es Salaam accused the Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) of failing to develop the sport in the country.

The forum was held on Saturday and attended by parents of swimmers, government officials and other stakeholders.

Ndaruma Majembe, who was the main speaker on a topic named ‘what to do to increase the number of clubs and swimmers’, with emphasis on introduction of swim
ming in local schools, blamed the leadership of TSA for failing to live up to modern times.

He said it is very sad to see that the swimming body has no website or even a facebook page which can be used to share information with all swimming stakeholders.

“I fail to understand why Tanzania Swimming Association still uses conservative ways of communicating on new development. In modern times few people still follow traditional means of communication. Why can’t you have a website where people can know all development of the association? I fail to understand how the whole association can fail to even have a facebook page!” he said.

His sentiments were agreed by all speakers who questioned the seriousness of the TSA when it even fails to develop a website and facebook page.
Majembe also asked TSA to put some conditions and measures to those who want to open new swimming clubs.

“Having many swimming clubs is good for the development and growth of the game in the country but association must make sure that they put some measures and conditions which will develop the sport ….for example TSA must know  development plans of the club and other things,” he said. 
TSA secretary general Noel Kiunsi, who was present at the forum, said the accusations to his association are good as they will help to develop it.

“Yes, I have taken them as a challenge and obviously TSA will work on them for the betterment of the game in the country,” he said. .     
TSA announced that 60 participants will attend the forum, however only few attended and there was a time when the participants wanted classification from the association technical director Marcelino Ngalioma  but he was not available .

The technical director left the room soon after presenting his topic titled   ‘Education and ethics of Coaches’.   

The forum was also pleased with efforts by Ingrid Nolveau who operates Dirkkool swimming project which is helping people to train how to swim.

Nolveau informed the forum that she earns money to pay fees for two Tanzanian juniors by selling her hand made merchandise.

  “I’m ready to help many Tanzanians to know how to swim.   Currently I’m paying fees at Dar Swimming Club for two juniors. I raise the money by selling my hand made products,” she said.

The forum could not discuss on sports marketing and team selection as main speaker, Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC), was not available due to other engagements.

Local coaches who recently went to the United States of America on a swimming coaching exchange program also shared their experiences during the ten days tour.

 The six coaches are Mwanahamisi Omar, Amina Mfaume, Alexander Mwaipasi, Zuberi Likoko, Geofrey Kimimba, and Yasin Khamisi.

In the past interviews, TSA assistant secretary general Ramadhan Namkomveka described the exchange program as good to the development of the game in the country but said many coaches fail to travel to the US due to lack of money as the coaches are supposed to pay for themselves as the host America Swimming Coaches Association(ASCA) only provide accommodation .