Dar es Salaam
AS the October general election looms, several sports personalities have already declared their intentions to contest ward and parliamentary seats.

Incumbent Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) secretary general Fredrick Mwakalebela, Simba Sports Club and Tabora Regional Football Association chairman Ismail Aden Rage and Young Africans chairman Imani Madega are among the prominent ones.

Mwakalebela is eying the Iringa Urban constituency being held by Monica Mbega, Rage intends to unseat Tabora Urban constituency's Siraju Kaboyonga, while Madega targets Chalinze constituency in Coast Region, which is under Ramadhan Maneno.

All three are contesting on the ruling party -- Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) -- ticket and their dreams depend much on the results of the forthcoming preferential votes.

They are, however, confident that the fame and influence they have earned through sports are enough to win voters.

Mwakalebela and Madega have each been at the helm of TFF and Yanga leadership for the past four years. During their reign, TFF has won back public trust whilst Yanga won the Mainland title for two consecutive seasons.

Rage is the most experienced, having served as TFF's Second Vice-President, secretary general of the defunct Tanzania Football Association (FAT) and Dar es Salaam Regional Football Association (DRFA) and currently Tabora FA and Simba chairman. 

It's no secret that many people have benefited from holding leadership positions in various sports institutions and it's not surprising to see the trio enter the fray.

Several government leaders, Members of Parliament and ward councillors owe their positions to the popularity they gained when they were either leaders, patrons or sponsors of big clubs Yanga and Simba, district, regional and national sports associations. 

The list is long and it includes President Jakaya Kikwete, Speaker of the National Assembly Samuel Sitta, ministers, several current and former legislators.

Kikwete, who is revered as the country's No. 1 sports fan, played basketball and later became patron of the sports' national governing body before he was elected president in 2005, while Sitta is a staunch Simba supporter and one of the club's patrons.

Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Joel Bendera was national soccer team, Taifa Stars, coach and also served as FAT assistant secretary before he was elected Member of Parliament.

Members of Parliament Mudhihir Mudhihir (Mchinga), Mohamed Missanga (Singida South), Mohammed Dewji (Singida Urban), Idd Azzan (Kinondoni), Professor Philemon Sarungi (Rorya) and the late Abbas Gulamali (Kilombero) were all sports leaders before they emerged to power.

Missanga was formerly Yanga's secretary general and FAT official, while Mudhihir was a former Yanga senator and remains loyal to the club.

Dewji and Gulamali were former Simba and Yanga chief sponsors respectively, although the former has now shifted allegiance to African Lyon.

Azzan and Sarungi are best known for their unwavering support for Simba and the latter is still bitter with the circumstances which led to Simba's 2-0 dubious defeat to Cote d'Ivoire's Stella Abidjan in the final of the 1993 CAF Cup tournament.

These are but just a few of the local sports personalities who have been catapulted to top political positions by their involvement and commitment in sports development.

As the general election fever hots up more sports officials are expected to join the bandwagon and use their popularity to lure votes.

Unfortunately, some of the aspirants are reported to be donating sports gear clandestinely to youths in several regions across the country although campaigning has not started officially.