53 swimmers to form Tanzania squad for Africa Zone 3 Aquatics event
Tanzania national swimming team members pose with their coaches in a past event. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The Africa Aquatics Zone Three Championships are scheduled to take place from October 23 to 28 in Bujumbura, Burundi
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) has named a 53-member provisional national team for the Africa Aquatics Zone Three Championships scheduled to take place from October 23 to 28 in Bujumbura, Burundi.
TSA Secretary General Inviolata Itatiro announced the selected swimmers in the girls' category of 12 years and under as Nicolene Viljoen, Haydleen Magashi, Iman Kimario, Pearl Carlos, Gracias Willybroad, and Lorita Borega.
The boys' category includes Max Missokia, Nathan Sabibi, Amani Kessi, Amran Suleyman, Ariel Sykes, Alberto Itatiro, and Ethan Makalla.
Itatiro also named girl swimmers aged 13 to 14 who will compete in the event as Crissa Dillip, Bridget Heep, Maryam Ipilinga, Zainab Moosajee, Aamina Takim, and Myra Makwaia while for boys are Julius Missokia, William Hamis, Luke Okore, Zac Okumu, and Hassan Harunani.
For girls aged 15 to 16 in the team includes Filbertha Demello, Amylia Chali, Lina Goyayi, Mahek Desai, Cathleen Maokola, and Aaliya Takim, while for boys are Aryan Bhatt, Mark Tibazarwa, Christian Fernandez, Norbert Godbless, Austin Okore, Isaac Mukani, Enrico Barretto, and Sahal Harunani.
The team also has girl swimmers aged 17 and over such as Sophia Latiff, Natalia Ladha, Juanita Viljoen, and Rahma Semizigi while for boys it has Collins Saliboko, Hilal Hilal, Romeo-Mihaly Mwaipasi, Michael Joseph, Delbert Ipilinga, Dennis Mhini, Aaron Akwenda, Peter Itatiro, Ethan Alimanya, Santo Bash, and Elia Kimimba.
The TSA official said the swimmers were selected based on specific criteria: they must be Tanzanians aged 11 and above, registered and active members of TSA, competed in the Taliss Invitational or the Tanzania National Club Championship 2024, and were among the top three in any event they competed in.
TSA’s vision for competing in the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships in Bujumbura, Burundi, is rooted in a commitment to the excellence and development of aquatic sports within the country.
By competing in this prestigious event, Tanzania aims to achieve the following objectives: Showcase its talented swimmers on a regional platform and foster a spirit of competing and striving for excellence in aquatics.
"We thank the swimming community for their big support ahead of the event," said Itatiro.
By competing in international events like the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships, she added, provides Tanzanian swimmers with invaluable exposure to high-level competition. She said this will enable them to gain experience and compete at an international level, thereby improving their skills and performance.
“We appeal to the swimming stakeholders to support the team ahead of the event,” she said. The performance of Tanzanian swimmers in Bujumbura, Burundi, is expected to bring national pride and enthusiasm for aquatic sports.
It aims to inspire the youth and the entire nation to engage in water-based activities, fostering a culture of swimming and aquatic sports in Tanzania. This vision emphasizes Tanzania's dedication to advancing its swimmers, promoting national pride, and enhancing its presence in the international aquatic sports arena.
