Ref: PR/AF/2016/17
The 15th Africa Federation Sports Festival dubbed “AFED Uhuru Mini Sports Festival” successfully concluded in Morogoro, Tanzania during the long weekend of 9th to 12th December 2016 (Tanzania and Kenya Independence Days holidays, respectively).
120 players from 15 participating teams from Dar-es-Salaam, Mombasa, Morogoro, Mwanza, Songea and Tanga converged in Morogoro for the Sports Festival which consisted of Football and Volleyball, the two most popular sports in our community.
A short Opening Ceremony was held on Friday 9th December 2016 night prior to the commencement of games which were played till Sunday night. The AFED Hon Assistant Secretary, Br. Alihassan Kassam represented AFED at the Opening function.
Following are the results of the games played:
Volleyball:
Football:
Alhaj Hussein Dhalla of Songea was recognized as a player who has participated in all AFED Sports Festival since its inception in 1984.
The Africa Federation was represented at the Closing Ceremony by the Hon Asst Secretary Br. Alihassan Kassam and the Africa Federation Sports Council Chairman Alhaj Mohamedhussein Somji.
In the Africa Federation Chairman address read out on his behalf by the Hon Asst Secretary, Shabir bhai Najafi said it is a matter of great pride that the Sports Festival continues to take place since its inception in 1984 in Dar-es-Salaam, which is a clear manifestation of the dedication of our community youths. He thanked Morogoro Jamaat for hosting the Festival and commended the AFED Sports Council for providing the smaller Jamaats opportunity to host the Festival. He ended by a remark that the conclusion of this Festival marks the beginning of preparations for the next Festival both for the organizers and the participants and hoped that more Jamaats will take part in the next Festival.
In his address the Sports Council Chairman Mohamedhussein Somji congratulated Morogoro Jamaat for hosting the Festival and talked on the importance of Sports in our daily lives. He called upon Jamaats in Africa to promote sports within its membership and pledged an amount of US $ 5,000 to the Jamaat that would be successful in encouraging sporting activities within its complete diversity. He said more details about this scheme would be communicated to the Jamaats sports bodies in due course.
Africa Federation encourages all Jamaats to provide sporting facilities and also indoor games and physical fitness amenities to its members, particularly for the women and youth of our community. This will enhance sense of belonging in the community and improve the health status which is presently on the decline in several Jamaats.
The Secretariat wishes to record its profound appreciation to the KSI Jamaat of Morogoro for hosting the Festival, the Organizing Committee for all the arrangements and the warm hospitality accorded to the players, officials and invitees.
On behalf of the Africa Federation Sports Council, we wish to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all the sponsorers for the financial and material support which was of great help in the organization of the Festival.
The Afed Secretariat wish to emphasize and appeal to other Jamaats to make greater efforts to participate in such events whose objective is to foster brotherhood, build strong bridges of friendship and also develop sporting skills amongst our youth and sports enthusiasts of different age groups from the Jamaats of the Africa Federation.
Secretariat