The Arumeru Youth League 2025 has kicked off in Arusha and set to be raising dust from various sports grounds for a total of 12 weeks.
The youth football competition for Primary school pupils in the Under-11 and Under-13 categories is going on in the region and set to climax next October.
Organized by Young Boys Academy in Tanzania, the events have started with the Under-11 league which is in the third round now, featuring six teams, played on home and away basis.
The league, which started its first matches at Baraa Primary School grounds in Moshono, will be played for three consecutive months, but with matches taking place during weekends to allow participants to attend school.
Inaugural matches saw Satino Academy playing against CTIDO Academy, ending in a draw match of 1-1.
The second game pitted Young Boys Academy versus Usa Youth Academy with the former beating the latter 4.0.
The third match results were shocking, Black eagles Academy thrashed Peace Academy 12-0.
“They play on each Saturday of the week,” stated the Director of Young Boys Academy in Tanzania Richard Pallangyo, explaining the league is another sports training platform to groom talents.
Pallangyo added that the league should also be regarded as a meeting place for young people to play, enjoy and learn right from the grassroots.
“Platforms like these are where the major players for national and international are being discovered, groomed and produced,” said the Director.
He said the older Under-13 league is set to commence in September 2025 and as time goes by the league will enroll more older candidates.
At the moment, the Young Boys Academy has a total of 21 youth, aboard, they are aged between 9 and 15 years.
The academy also provides education scholarships to young people from primary, secondary all the way to technical and university colleges.
“Other than sports we also promote academic endeavors and in fact last year two of our young members topped the National Primary Examinations in the Arusha Region.”
Young Boys Academy also works to ensure that its members are getting the sporting exposure by playing against other teams from various parts of the country as well as from abroad.
“But Tanzania is still lacking when it comes to playing grounds, something which inhibits the development of youth sports in the country,” lamented the Director.
On his part, the Young Boys Academy Coach Jackson Tunda said they intend to build sports role models that can qualify to enroll for international clubs or at least National teams.
He added that they are identifying talents and grooming them so that all children get direction in life right from young ages, in addition to being supported academically.