The Tanzania’s representatives in CAF Confederation Cup, Azam FC will miss the services of its four players including their ace striker John Bocco in their first leg preliminary round match against Ferroviário da Beira from Mozambique on Sunday.
Azam’s team Manager Jemedari Said confirmed to the ‘Daily News’ that Bocco and other three players — Waziri Salum, Farid Mussa and Samih Nuhu will not be available against Ferroviário because they are nursing injuries.
The first leg encounter will be held at the Azam’s Chamazi Complex in Dar es Salaam this weekend. It will be the first major international match to be hosted at the venue, which has just been given a green light to host international matches organised by CAF.
“The four players are still on injury list and the medical team has already confirmed that they cannot play Sunday’s game against the Mozambique side,” he said.
He said youthful striker Joseph Kimwaga, who is also injured, faces a 50/50 chances of being available for selection in the match. “His health is being monitored closely by the club medical team to see if he will be fit before the Sunday’s match,” he said.
Despite the long injury list, Said sounded confident that Azam still has a strong squad to compete effectively in the continental second tier club championships.
He said immediately after winning their Mainland Premier League match 4-0 against Kagera Sugar over the weekend, they shifted focus on the CAF Confederation Cup, saying they will begin training at their base today, to make final preparations for the match.
Azam is currently under Cameroonian Coach Joseph Omog, who has an excellent record in continental club championships. He won the Confederation Cup title when he was with AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville few years back and he is eager to repeat the same feat with Azam FC.
Speaking about their opponents, the team manager said that they respect all teams which are participating in the tournament; saying by virtue of being in the tournament it shows their strength.
“We’ll never underrate any team in the tournament because we believe they all have same merits and deserved to take part in the event,” he said.
He also said that their major target in this year’s tournament is to reach the group stage and exceeding their last year target, in which they managed to reach the second round.
The return leg match against the Mozambique side will take place in Maputo a week later. Winner of the double-header clash will proceed in the first round to face Zecso from Zambia.
The ice cream makers are currently at the top of the Mainland Premier League table after they bagged 36 points from 16 matches, while their closest challengers in the title race Yanga a second on 35 points from the same number of outings. Mbeya City on 31 points and Simba on 30 points are placed third and fourth respectively.
By BETRAM LENGAMA, Tanzania Daily News
