Match-Fixing in Tanzania Must Be Urgently Fixed

The 2015/16 Mainland First Division League season ended in a dramatic fashion some two weeks ago, amid a lot of controversy, with some quarters suggesting match-fixing and demanding a probe.

Drama ensued in the final day in group C, after teams that were eyeing for Mainland Premier League promotion next season, recorded an extraordinary hefty results. Geita Gold snatched an 8-0 win over JKT Kanembwa at the Lake Tanganyika Stadium in Kigoma while Polisi Tabora thrashed JKT Oljoro from Arusha 7-0 at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora.

Tying on 30 points and on goal difference, both teams needed to outscore each other, for one to earn promotion into the topflight league, but the score in both matches raised eyebrows and this is why it is time for the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), to take stern measures by investigating seriously into the matter and punish those who will be found guilty of match-fixing.

The positive thing, however, is that already TFF has smelt something fishy in relation to results involving the two teams and the federation has decided to hold on from announcing a team that deserves promotion between front runners, until they examine the report from commissioners of both matches.

The matter will then be determined by the TFF Disciplinary Committee by March 20. It is not only the recent matches that have raised questions. For quite sometimes now, local football fraternity has been in shambles if not turmoil following series of claims that suggest match fixing and bribery.

In regular cases, we have heard players mostly from Simba and Yanga being accused of sabotage, especially when the two teams clash but such claims are let to go unchecked.

Players have been accused of being paid money to influence results, a fact which points to a deep-seated scandal in local football, which risks bringing the league and football into serious disrepute.

Sadly, the malpractice is conducted with impunity while no action is taken. Certainly, we also believe that TFF and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), police force and other law enforcement organs have the capacity to combat match-fixing.

Match-fixing hampers the progress of sport as it goes against all principles of fair play. It is, therefore, important that a criminal investigation into these malpractices is launched in Tanzania and those found guilty booked.