The call was made by Morogoro Municipal Sports Officer, Ms. Asteria Mwang'ombe, on behalf of the director of the municipality while addressing the athletes and members of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), CRDB and NMB Bank while closing the annual SUA staff sports and games events known as Chibunda CUP for the year 2020.

Official guest at the closing of Chibunda Cup 2020, Ms. Asteria Mwang’ombe who is the Sports Officer of Morogoro Municipal Council giving a speech in front of the participants and other stakeholders.

Ms. Asteria commended the SUA leadership for its decision to launch the event which brings together all SUA employees in 20 different sports and congratulated CRDB bank for deciding to fund the competition every year since its inception.

"I commend the SUA leadership for giving priority to the issue of sports for staff and students, especially for deciding to set up a special department for sports, this is a good step as it will increase efficiency, productivity and enthusiasm for SUA members to participate in various sports." Said Ms. Asteria Mwang’ombe

The sports officer promised to provide any cooperation needed to achieve sports at the university, including helping them find a sports instructors when needed and that the various challenges identified will be communicated to the municipal leadership to see how to solve them.

Speaking before welcoming the official guest to close the games, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance) Prof. Amandus Muhairwa on behalf of the vice chancellor, Prof. Raphael Chibubda said the games are part of the college to find athletes who will represent the university in various sports competitions at home and abroad.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance) Prof. Amandus Muhairwa giving his remarks about the event and its significance to SUA community on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Raphael Chibunda

Prof. Muhairwa said the university administration values the importance of sports which is why it has put in place various strategies to improve playing grounds and purchase various equipment on all its campuses so that staff and students can participate effectively in sports.

"Due to a large number of students and staff, the university is continuing its efforts to add new and modern sports facilities in order to meet demand and already a new modern basketball court in Morogoro region has been completed at SUA and is now used even by people outside the university" explained Prof. Muhairwa.

Prof. Muhairwa took the opportunity to congratulate the leadership of CRDB bank for sponsoring the event for four years in a row and used the opportunity to ask other stakeholders to come forward to sponsor the student competition to make it bigger and more attractive.

For her part, representative of CRDB bank Ms. Isabela Kitila who is the branch manager of CRDB SUA thanked the SUA leadership for continuing to involve them in these events for four consecutive years as the main sponsors and pledged to continue sponsoring each year.

CRDB bank SUA branch manager, Ms. Isabela Kitila speaking on behalf of CRDB who are the main sponsors of the tournament.

Ms. Isabela said that the event have made CRDB and SUA members live as brothers and sisters as the games have been connecting them in various ways and getting to know each other considering the large number of SUA staff available without games would not have been easy.

"I assure you that we as CRDB will continue to be among you in participating in these games and other things, so come to our bank so that you can get various banking services according to your needs because we and you are one family" stressed Isabela.

Mr. Harold Lambileki, the manager of NMB Bank's Wami branch, said that today is their first time to participate in the games so they have come to learn what is happening so that they can participate fully as key stakeholders in sports in the country.

NMB Bank, Wami Branch Manager, Mr. Harold Lambikile speaking to the athletes and stakeholders who arrived at the culmination of the official closing ceremony of the Chibubda Cup.

He said the athletes are the customers of NMB banking services so they will make sure that in the next year vent they become part of the sponsors because sports help to improve health and strengthen our relationships.

The Sokoine University of Agriculture staff sports and games event, known as the Chibunda Cup, was launched four years ago and has been involving all staff participating in more than 20 different sports and at the end of the games, various prizes are awarded including trophies, medals and cash to the winners.