FIFA World Cup trophy coming to Zanzibar
By
AFTER days of negotiations, Coca-Cola Tanzania has honoured a request by Zanzibar to be among areas the FIFA World Cup Trophy will visit during its tour of Tanzania later this month.
The golden trophy, now on a tour of Africa courtesy of Coca-Cola Company, is expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam on November 19 for a three-day tour of the country.
Coca-Cola East and Central Africa (Tanzania) Marketing Manager, Ritta Tsehai, confirmed yesterday that Zanzibar was among those areas that would host the trophy during its second tour of Tanzania.
This will be the first time for the Isles soccer fans to have a lifetime opportunity to interact, have a close up view and pose for photographs with the trophy.
Tsehai said it took them time to honour the Isles government’s request on the matter because they knew it could be difficult for the world soccer governing body, FIFA, to approve it.
”When we received the request from the Zanzibar government to include the Isles in the trophy’s tour, we were doubtful if it could be honoured because FIFA had already released the itinerary,� she said.
She admitted that they have been enjoying good support from Minister for Information, Culture and Sports George Mkuchika and Zanzibar Deputy Chief Minister Ali Juma Shamhuna in the build up to the trophy’s arrival.
She singles out Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Joel Bendera and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president, Leodegar Tenga, as the people they have been working closely with to make the tour a success.
Coca-Cola Tanzania, TFF and its Zanzibar counterpart ZFA and officials from the ministry responsible for sports have in the past two weeks or so held a series of talks on a request by the Isles to host the World Cup trophy.
Early this month, Shamhuna was quoted as saying that the government decided to host the trophy in Zanzibar for the benefit of its people.
The World Cup trophy arrives in Dar es Salaam on November 19 at 4.00pm aboard a special flight.
At 12.00pm the following day, it will be taken to Zanzibar where fans will have an opportunity to view and take photographs with it at the Forodhani grounds.
On November 21, the trophy will be at the ultra-modern National Stadium in Dar es Salaam from 8.00am to 4.00pm.
�While there will tight security in place to protect the trophy, fans will not be hindered from enjoying the unique experience with this respected icon,� Tsehai said.
�In fact, fans will be able to see the trophy at close range and, in many cases, even have their photo taken with it,” she added
