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The Tanzanian Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, has condemned the vandalism that took place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during a high-stakes Confederation Cup match on December 15, 2024. Fans uprooted and threw seats during the game, causing significant damage to the facility.
The Minister instructed the ministry’s Secretary-General to take immediate action, including issuing a formal notice to the responsible football club and copying the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF). This letter will demand accountability for the damages and outline steps to recover repair costs.
“This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of sportsmanship,” Professor Kabudi said in a statement. “The responsible individuals must be identified, arrested, and held accountable for their actions. We need to eliminate this kind of behavior from our stadiums.”
The match, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the home team against CS Sfaxien, was overshadowed by the destructive behavior of some fans. Professor Kabudi has also called on law enforcement to work closely with stadium officials to investigate the incident and bring those involved to justice.
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Beyond addressing the immediate damage, the Minister urged all fans to respect public sports facilities. “Destroying stadium property only brings losses to the government and affects the quality of our infrastructure. We must protect these facilities for future generations,” he added.
The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, a vital venue for Tanzania’s sports and entertainment events, has faced challenges maintaining its standards due to incidents like this. The Ministry’s firm response signals a broader commitment to protecting national infrastructure and fostering responsible fan behavior.
