THE Uhuru Stadium manager, Charles Masanja died in Dar es Salaam yesterday after he was hit by bricks from a damaged fence of his house at Kimara.
Masanja, 52, died at Muhimbili National Hospital where he was sent for treatment after sustaining serious injuries including a broken leg.
Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports Gasper Mwambezi said in the city yesterday the government was shocked by news of Masanjas death, adding that he was an important person in the ministry.
The government has received the news of Masanjas death with much grief as he was a very important person who offered close cooperation in various activities in the Sports Development Directorate in the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports,� said Mwambezi.
The Director of Sports in the ministry, Leonard Thadeo, said funeral arrangements are being made at the deceaseds house at Kimara and that Masanjas body will tomorrow be transported to him home village in Urambo, Tabora Region for burial.
Several soccer stakeholders interviewed by this paper yesterday expressed shock at Masanjas death.
I received news of Masanjas death with profound shock. He was a man of the people, very humble and cooperative,� said one fan, Samuel Jacob, a resident of Kimara area in the city.
Masanja was born on January 20, 1957 at Urambo secondary education at Itaga and Minaki secondary schools and later graduated with a Masters degree in physical education in Havana Cuba in 1988.
He was head coach of African Sports Club of Tanga in 1990 and served as assistant secretary general of the disbanded Tanzania Football Association (FAT) from 2004-2006.
In 2006 he was elected member of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) technical committee and was appointed Uhuru Stadium manager in 2007.
The late Masanja is survived by a widow and several children.
May God rest his soul in eternal peace. Amen.