THE Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma, has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Singida Black Stars following the inauguration of their Airtel Stadium in Singida Region.

Presiding over the ceremony on Monday, Mwinjuma commended all stakeholders who contributed to the project, particularly acknowledging the principal sponsor of the Mainland Premier League, for its pivotal role in advancing Tanzanian football.

"The inauguration of Singida Black Stars’ new stadium marks a significant step forward in the development of our sports sector, particularly football. I commend everyone involved for making this achievement possible," he said.

"It is truly encouraging to see the league’s principal sponsor playing an active role in infrastructure development. Their commitment to the growth of sports in Tanzania is commendable, and we sincerely appreciate their efforts."

The Mainland Premier League’s principal sponsor (NBC Bank) was represented at the event by several senior officials, including Elvis Ndunguru, Godwin Semunyu, and Joseph Lyuba. 

The officials reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to further investment in improving stadiums used by Premier League clubs.

Ndunguru highlighted their strategic approach to upgrading stadium infrastructure, which is part of a broader initiative to enhance the league. These efforts also include providing transportation loans to clubs, offering health insurance to players and coaching staff, facilitating member registration processes, and delivering financial literacy education to participating teams.

"Enhancing stadium infrastructure is now one of our top priorities as a league sponsor. We've already made progress, but there is still more to be done," Ndunguru stated.

"In addition to our 50 million shillings contribution to this stadium, we have also supported improvements at other grounds, such as Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, where we assisted in upgrading the irrigation system."

He also emphasized the need for clubs to adopt electronic membership cards, which would help them increase revenue streams while maintaining accurate supporter records.

Lyuba, a senior member of the bank’s sponsorship committee, expressed satisfaction with the league’s growth, citing increased competitiveness, fan engagement, and financial stability among clubs. He noted that this progress has enabled teams to attract top talent from both local and international markets.

Meanwhile, Semunyu applauded the collaborative efforts of various league stakeholders, including the government, clubs, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), the media, and fans. He stressed that such partnerships empower them to fulfill their role as the league’s main sponsor more effectively.

“We are encouraged by the dedication of all stakeholders, including clubs like Singida Black Stars, which continue to invest in the sport’s growth," Semunyu said.

"The presence of government officials at such events serves as additional motivation for all involved. With continued commitment from all parties, the league will only get stronger."

The inauguration of the new stadium was capped off by a friendly match between Singida Black Stars and Young Africans. However, the game was suspended midway through the second half due to heavy rainfall, with the score tied at 1-1.