A group of 120 sportsmen and women from Tanzania are in Bujumbura, Burundi ahead if this year’s East Africa military games and cultural events, the local Daily News reports.
The annual event, scheduled for Saturday will be held for the second time in Burundi’s capital Bujumbura.
Rwanda was host to the 10th edition of the 2016 East Africa Military Games and culturalo event that were held in the capital Kigali.
The sporting activities at the games include athletics, basketball, football, handball, netball, among others.
In the competition, Tanzania will be represented by Netball team who are the defending champions, football, Basketball, Volleyball and cross country, the report said.
Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the country’s flag to the team’s head of delegation, the country’s retired Major General Elias Athanas advised members of the team to put discipline first both on and off the field.
“Preparations you have done have qualified you to be competitors other than participants, as such I have much trust in you that you will perform better in all sports categories and bring home trophies,” Athanas said, the report quotes him say.
Additionally, Athanas requested team members to utilise well the opportunity in order to facilitate good cooperation among the member countries which will also take part in the competition.
Other military teams which will participate in the competition are from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and the hosts Burundi.
According to the EAC deputy secretary-general for political federation, Charles Njoroge, the event is organised within the framework of EAC cooperation, which includes cultural exchanges and sports activities to enhance the spirit of comradeship among armed forces of member states.
The event is an annual regional tournament held on rotational basis. Tanzania will host the 11th edition of the games next year.
