THE government has allocated 19.7bn/- for the renovation of the Uhuru Stadium located in Dar es Salaam.

The renovation is conducted by a Chinese contractor- China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG).

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the contract, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports Gerson Msigwa said that according to the ministry's agreement with the contractor, the project will be completed within 12 months, but they have asked the contractor to take six months if such a feat is possible.

He said it would take six months to complete such a project because of the shortage of stadiums in Tanzania, especially in Dar es Salaam, considering that the Azam Complex Stadium, owned by Azam FC, will also be temporarily closed for renovation.

The official pointed out: "Our agreement spans 12 months (for the project) to be completed but we have asked the contractor to (ensure it is) completed within six months due to the scarcity of stadiums in Tanzania."

"We have spoken with the contractor that we need the stadium to be completed soon. If Azam Complex Stadium is closed, it will be difficult for the league to be played, so we need Uhuru Stadium early," Msigwa revealed.

He added that if the stadium is used properly, it will help to reduce the use of the adjacent Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, and it will provide an opportunity to organize many competitions.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out: "We are sure of the contractor, we gave the firm (the task) because we know it and we believe it will do something good, Uhuru Stadium can accommodate 23,000 people but we need to increase the capacity to 30,000."

He added: "We will negotiate with Uhuru Stadium's contractor to remove the running track and add facilities that will improve the venue's rating in the International Football Federation (FIFA) standards."

The Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary Suleiman Selela said that the renovation will include changing rooms, stadium walls, scoreboard, sound systems, running track, security cameras, and the pitch.

Selela pointed out: "This renovation is a continuation of the improvement of the stadiums in this country as part of the preparations for the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), in which Tanzania is expected to be one of the hosts of the showdown."

Tanzania needs to have adequate infrastructure, so it has already started the renovation of some stadiums, including the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar and Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The government continues to build some sports centers and there are important fields for rehabilitation, including Uhuru Stadium, which will be used for training for the teams," Selela stated.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Wallace Karia said the agreement between the ministry and CRCEG is a monumental feat because the Uhuru Stadium has a history and he promised the federation will cooperate with the government to help access good stadiums for training.

"The renovation of Uhuru Stadium will be of great benefit to us because, after the AFCON, it will be used by some teams to play various games including Mainland Tanzania Premier League," Karia disclosed.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, further, awarded boxers who did well in the All-African Games, including Yusuph Changalawe, Mussa Maregesi, and Ezra Paul who won bronze medals.

The boxers' coaches Samwel Kapungu and Muhsin Mohamed were also presented with prizes due to the good work they did, which has brought honour to the nation.

The government handed them a sum of money as an incentive so they can step up their efforts.