Let sports revenues carter for the needy

Soccer accounts for huge revenues resulting from national team or premier league matches. Rarely a share or portion of these revenues are channelled towards galore of needy communities scattered all over the country.

Though government has the responsibility to take care of the needy communities like the disabled and orphanage centres, the resources available cannot satisfy the massive needs.

As part of community responsibility, sports bodies and organisers of events that generate money should take into consideration serving if not all, then some of our relatives, friends or anyone embroiled in suffering or economically disadvantaged.

Catering for needy people or communities should be on perpetuity basis and not wait until a calamity or disaster strikes.

If not all, then an organisation like the Tanzania Football Federation should select those matches that generates huge amount of gate revenues and then introduce deduction percentage to provide for selected charitable organisations in the likes of hospitals, orphanage centres, centres for rehabilitations and what have you.

We have to realise the need to serve our fellow citizens who are suffering from various reasons and those who for any reasons have found themselves in trouble to lack even the basic needs of human being.

There is a huge need to develop the culture of serving others as well as creating an atmosphere of generosity besides enjoyment of sports and entertainments.

The highest revenue generating sport here is obviously, football. How much money the Tanzania Football Federation and its respective clubs collect in a given season? Is it wrong for these clubs and their football body to cut a small portion of their revenues and channel to the needy communities?

Nobody chose to become a beggar or handicap.
Besides soccer, music shows across entertainment pubs all over the country on weekly basis also generates huge revenues.

The number of people who are highly in need of assistance particularly the basic needs in the likes of food and shelters continue to rise on daily basis.

A lot of people are sick, helpless and more are stricken by natural calamities like floods, drought and other dreadful disasters. We have hospitals, schools and other centres that are always in need of financial or moral assistance.

However, the annual Dar es Salaam Charity Goat Races organisers need a pat on the back for steadily staging the event aiming at generating funds for the needy communities. Let top premier soccer clubs and reputable entertainment pubs take bold steps in channelling part of their revenues to cater for the needy.

Parallel to this, the Tanzania Revenue Authority should also take note of these generous donations in terms of taxation. These proceeds should not be taxed to ease burden of donors as an encouragement.