Singida Fountain Gate F.C.

Singida Fountain Gate Football Club, commonly referred to as Singida Fountain Gate or Singida FG is a professional football club based in Singida, Tanzania. The club competes in the NBC Premier League, the top division in the Tanzania football league system. They were founded as Diamond Trust Bank Football Club in 2010, but changed their name to Singida Big Stars Club in 2022 and later to Singida Fountain Gate FC in 2023.

Singida Fountain Gate F.C.
Full nameSingida Fountain Gate Football Club
Nickname(s)The Big Stars
Founded2010 (2010)
GroundLiti Stadium
Head CoachErnst Middendorp
LeagueTanzanian Premier League
2022–234th
WebsiteClub website

History

Singida Fountain Gate FC was founded in 2010 as a team of DTB Bank employees known as Diamond Trust Bank Football Club (DTB FC) before changing their name.[1][2] DTB FC later gained popularity after performing well in bank bonanzas throughout the country, prompting bank's leadership to invest in the team officially and advocate for it competing in the First Division League (Championship).[2] In 2022, DTB Bank discontinued their ownership of the football team in order to focus on its core banking functions after the club gained promotion to the Premier League.[3][4][5][6] This gave stakeholders in the Singida Region the opportunity to purchase the team and change its name from DTB FC to Singida Big Stars similar to Singida United.[1][2][5][6][7]

In 2022–2023 season, the Singida Big Stars Club began playing in the Tanzanian Premier League.[1] The team performed well by recruiting high-quality international players as well as players from major Tanzanian clubs such as Simba, Yanga, Azam, Mtibwa, Mbeya City, and others.[1] The Singida Big Stars club's success is built on the calibre of its players, technical bench, and strong leadership. The club placed fourth (4th) in their debut season and qualified for the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup.[8][9][10]

After a successful 2022–23 season, ahead of the 2023–24 season, Singida Big Stars Club investor Fountain Gate Academy showed interest in purchasing the club with the intention of improving and modernising it. Following the acquisition, Singida Big Stars merged with Fountain Gate Academy to become the new name of Singida Fountain Gate FC.[1]

Grounds

Whilst the team was DTB, it was using the Uhuru stadium in Dar es Salaam as its home stadium.[7] After the team was moved to the Singida region they moved their home grounds to the Liti Stadium which used to be called (Namfua), same stadium that was used by Singida United.[6][7]

Management

Muhibu Kanu served the club's Chief Executive Officer during its first top flight season and prior to its sale and change of name to Singida Fountain Gate FC.[5][7] On 14 June 2023, Singida Fountain Gate FC appointed former Botswana Football Association (BFA) head of competitions and operations, Olebile Sikwane as its chief executive.[1]

The club's main sponsor is SportPesa.[9][11]

Honours

Domestic

League

  • Second Division / Championship (level 2)
    • Runners-up: 2021–22[12]

Coaches

References
  1. "Tanzania side, Singida unveils Sikwane". Mmegi Online. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  2. "Singida Fountain Gate FC About". Singida Fountain Gate FC. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  3. "DTB set strategies after promotion". Africa Press. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  4. Ben, Benjamin (16 May 2022). "Relegation-Promotion Drift Hits Mbeya". Daily News.
  5. "DTB FC Yabadilisha Jina, Yamtambulisha Rasmi Msemaji Wao Pamoja na Makao Makuu" [DTB FC Changes Name, Officially Introduces Their Spokesman And Headquarters]. Global Publishers (in Swahili). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. Musikula, Leonard (30 May 2022). "DTB yabadilishwa jina, kuhamishiwa Singida" [DTB has been renamed, transferred to Singida]. Mwanaspoti (in Swahili). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  7. "DTB yabadilishwa jina" [DTB has been renamed]. East Africa Television (in Swahili). 30 May 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  8. "Tanzania (Mainland) 2022/23". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  9. "Singida Fountain Gate FC, SportPesa support regional referral hospital". The Citizen. 2023-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  10. "Tanzania representatives in Caf Cup advised to recruit best players". The Citizen. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
  11. "SportPesa seals sponsorship contract with Singida Big Stars FC". IPP Media. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  12. "Tanzania (Mainland) 2021/22". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
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