Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Karia has announced the abolition of the regulation that allowed visiting teams to hold their final training session at the match venue before kickoff. Under the new rule, such training sessions will only be permitted if a team is playing at that stadium for the first time.
Karia said the amendment is aimed at improving the management of domestic competitions and addressing recurring challenges associated with the previous regulation. He noted that there is no need for teams to conduct a final training session at a stadium they are already familiar with after playing there on multiple occasions.
The rule has been a source of controversy in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League, particularly ahead of high-profile fixtures such as the Simba-Yanga derby, where disagreements have often arisen over the visiting team's right to train at the match venue. In some cases, the disputes led to match postponements and confusion among football stakeholders.
Through the new regulation, TFF believes it will eliminate unnecessary pre-match disputes, streamline teams' preparations, and improve the overall administration of the league. The move is also expected to ensure a smoother competition schedule by reducing disruptions caused by pre-match complaints.
