Makalla: Taifa Stars has players from Zanzibar

The national soccer team (Taifa Stars) has five players from Zanzibar who play for Mainland clubs Azam, Young Africans and Simba.

Deputy Minister Amos Makalla

Amos Makalla

Zanzibar players in Taifa Stars include Mwadini Ali, Aggrey Morris, Nadir Haroub and Said Nassoro ‘Cholo’.

Responding to a basic question from Amina Amour (Special Seats – CCM), the deputy minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Amos Makalla, said the national team does not have players from Zanzibar clubs.

Amour wanted to know why a foreign coach, who is employed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) or the government, trains both Taifa Stars and Kilimanjaro Stars. She also sought to know how many Zanzibar soccer players from Zanzibar clubs play in the national team.

Makalla said that selection of the national team is done by the head coach who looks at specific qualities. “The national team head coach selects players on merit, basing on qualities a player has to meet to join the national team,” he said.

“According to the agreement, foreign coaches employed by TFF, train both Taifa Stars and the Mainland team Kilimanjaro Stars,” he added. “This is due to the fact that foreign coaches are employees of TFF, which also manages Kilimanjaro Stars. Makalla said that suggestions presented by the legislator to separate responsibilities of the coach, will be considered.

Responding to a supplementary question from Rita Kabati (Special Seats – CCM), who wanted the government to employ a foreign coach for Twiga Stars, Makalla said the government will do its best to find one. “We will take all issues, including Taifa Stars camping in Zanzibar, and work on them,” he explained.

By ROSE ATHUMANI, Taanzania Daily News

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