Tanzania's government believes the work still required at Uhuru Stadium to bring it up to continental standards is limited and can be completed, according to Daily News. Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Hamis Mwinjuma made the assessment in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, speaking after Simba's 3-0 win over 15 de Agosto at the venue.
The result sealed a 9-1 aggregate victory for Simba and confirmed their place in the CAF Champions League group stage. With that qualification secured, attention has turned to whether the Msimbazi club can play its group fixtures at home in Dar es Salaam rather than elsewhere.
Why it matters
Hosting group-stage matches at Uhuru Stadium would keep Simba's continental campaign on home ground, a prospect Daily News reports would carry significant benefits for the club and its supporters. The venue must first satisfy the Confederation of African Football's requirements, and the government's position suggests the gap between the stadium's current state and those standards is not large.
Mwinjuma framed the remaining work as a matter of political will rather than major construction. Daily News quotes him saying the items identified as necessary for the stadium to be used in the next round are very minor and entirely within the government's capacity.
Government pledges support for continental ambitions
The deputy minister said the government is committed to giving Tanzanian clubs the conditions they need to compete abroad, including making sure domestic stadiums meet the required standards. He described it as the state's responsibility to ensure local teams play in settings that give them the best chance of success.
His comments came in a post-match interview at Uhuru Stadium, where Simba had just completed the tie against 15 de Agosto. Daily News reports that his remarks offer encouragement to the club as group-stage preparations accelerate.
The assurance shifts the focus to completing the outstanding items and securing clearance from CAF, the body that decides whether a venue is approved for its competitions.
What to watch: whether CAF inspects and clears Uhuru Stadium before Simba's group-stage home fixtures are scheduled.
