Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has pledged support for the construction of a new satellite stadium in Arusha to complement the main venue being built for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
TFF President Wallace Karia made the announcement during a visit to a sports complex under development by the Youth Empowerment Centre (YEC) in Arusha.
The project is part of broader preparations as Tanzania gears up to co-host the continental tournament.
Construction of the main AFCON stadium in Arusha has reached about 75 percent completion.
Meanwhile, the complementary YEC stadium has already begun hosting football matches and is expected to serve as a training and warm-up venue for teams participating in the tournament.
The YEC stadium is being developed by the Future Stars Academy (FSA), a youth football development programme focused on nurturing young players and preparing them for professional opportunities in international leagues and future strong national teams.
Karia praised the progress made at the Future Stars sports complex, noting that TFF will send representatives to support a fundraising initiative aimed at launching the second phase of construction.
“TFF is impressed with the progress made so far. We will take part in the fundraising efforts to ensure the next phase of this project begins as planned,” he said.
Beyond infrastructure development, the federation is also focusing on strengthening grassroots football programmes to secure the future of the sport in the country.
“Youth football initiatives must be supported, empowered and sustained across the nation,” Karia said, adding that such programmes not only develop future players but also help keep young people away from social vices.
He noted that TFF currently runs the Talent Development Scheme (TDS) in Tanga, where promising young footballers are identified and nurtured.
Meanwhile, Alfred Itaeli, Director of the Future Stars Academy, said a fundraising event to support completion of the YEC stadium will be held in Arusha on Saturday.
he facility, which sits on eight acres of land, will feature several sports pitches including a main football stadium. It is located near the new AFCON arena on the outskirts of Arusha City and is expected to play a key role in supporting tournament preparations.
