Taifa Stars head coach Kim Poulsen has left three of the team’s most inexperienced players out of the squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Morocco due in Marrakech on June 8.
Taifa Stars
Stars will pitch camp in the Ethiopian capital for a week before facing Sudan on 2nd June in a friendly match as part of their preparations.
The team was due to fly out to Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa last night ahead of the friendly meant to gauge the team’s strength prior to their decisive encounter with Morocco.
A trio of Juma Luzio, Waziri Salum and Aishi Manula were not part of the final 21-man squad that was bound to leave for Addis Ababa aboard EgyptAir at 2300hrs last night. Poulsen has opted for a blend of youth and experience, with three goalkeepers, including skipper Juma Kaseja (Simba), Mwadini Ally (Azam) and Ali Mustafa (Young Africans) all making the list.
Others in the list include defenders: Aggrey Morris (Azam), Erasto Nyoni (Azam), Kelvin Yondani (Yanga), Nadir Haroub (Yanga), Shomari Kapombe (Simba), Vicent Barnabas (Mtibwa Sugar), Waziri Salum (Azam).
Midfielders are Amri Kiemba (Simba), Athuman Idd (Yanga), Frank Domayo (Yanga), Haruna Chanongo (Simba), Khamis Mcha (Azam), Mwinyi Kazimoto (Simba), Mudathiri Yahya (Azam) and Salum Abubakar (Azam). Strikers are John Bocco (Azam), Juma Luzio (Mtibwa Sugar), Mrisho Ngasa (Simba), Simon Msuva (Yanga) and Zahoro Pazi (JKT Ruvu).
TP Mazembe’s attacking duo of Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu will link up with the squad on June 4 after their Confederation Cup match with Liga Muculumana in Maputo, Mozambique next weekend as confirmed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF). The technical bench will be headed by Poulsen.
Other officials include assistant coach Sylvester Marsh, Juma Pondamali (goalkeepers’ coach), Juma Mwankemwa (team doctor), Alfred Chimela (kit manager) and Leopold Mukebezi (team manager).
Meanwhile, the Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), through its Kilimanjaro Premium Lager brand has handed over 30 brand new suits to Taifa Star players and the technical bench.
The suits were handed over to TFF’s Secretary General Angetile Osiah by TBL’s External Affairs Director, Phocus Lasway at a special event at the Hyatt Regency that was attended by various football stakeholders.
Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, who are main sponsors of the Taifa Stars, also used the event to bid the team farewell as it departs to Ethiopia to prepare for the World Cup qualifier return leg match with Taifa Stars.
Invited guests were treated to great entertainment as they had the chance to see the players and the technical bench cat walk to showcase their new costumes. The players and the officials looked elegant as they walked to the podium from backstage amid applause.
Fans were also able to send their views via twitter and face book and their comments and well-wishes were aired on big screen at the venue. Speaking during the event, the Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Brand Manager, George Kavishe, said when they started sponsoring the national teams about a year ago by investing more than 13bn/- for five years, one of the major things they aimed at was to raise the status of the team with a view to boost performance of the players.
He said the new suits will give the players a totally new-look as they will now look similar to what professional players wear when travelling or at special functions. He called on the players to play with more zeal as they face Morocco during the return leg in Marrakesh next month, adding that Stars stand higher chances of beating Morocco again away after a 3-1 home win in March.
“It is our hope that you will make us happy again by beating them in Marrakesh to put you in a better place to qualify,” said Kavishe and called on them to do the same when they face Ivory Coast on June 16.
TFF President Leodegar Tenga thanked Kilimanjaro Premium Lager for being on the frontline in implementing issues that they promised to do when they took over sponsorship of the Stars and this has greatly contributed to the team’s good performance.
Source Tanzania Daily News
