Africa-Press – Tanzania. PREPARATIONS are at an advanced stage for the 2026 Al Muntazir International School football tournament, a key platform for young players to showcase their talents and compete in a structured environment.
The six-week tournament is scheduled to kick off on April 18 and run through May 30 at the refurbished Al Muntazir Sports Park in Dar es Salaam.
The boys’ competition will feature six age categories: Under-7, Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-19. The girls’ competition will include Under-9, Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 categories.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam recently, the Head of Sports and Co-Curricular Activities at Al Muntazir Islamic International Schools, Abinel Matemera, said registration remains open and interest continues to grow.
“We expect over 80 teams to participate by the close of registration. The public response has been very encouraging,” he said.
Matemera emphasised that the tournament is designed to nurture young talent while promoting holistic development among participants.
“The main objective of the Al Muntazir tournament is to provide a platform for young footballers to showcase their abilities, compete in a wellorganised setting, and develop their skills,” he explained.
“Through participation, learners grow mentally through decision-making, socially through teamwork and emotionally by learning how to handle both victory and defeat.”
He added that the tournament also promotes essential values such as sportsmanship and fair play, which extend beyond the pitch into everyday life.
“Sports play a vital role in the overall development of learners. They promote physical fitness, mental growth, social interaction and emotional resilience,” he said.
“Regular participation helps students improve their health and well-being while instilling important life values such as discipline, perseverance, responsibility, integrity and respect. Competition also builds character and confidence.
