Young Africans defender David Luhende will be the only new face when the national soccer team, Taifa Stars, start residential training today in preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying tie against Uganda scheduled to take place on July 13, this year.
Taifa Stars head coach Kim Poulsen
Taifa Stars head coach Kim Poulsen is set to use almost the same squad that featured in the latest 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Morocco and Ivory Coast in which his side tumbled to 2-1 and 4-2 defeats respectively.
The Danish tactician has added only one player in the list, the industrious left full-back Luhende as he seeks to strengthen the defence and bring in balance into the team ahead of the double-header against the Cranes.
Taifa Stars played Ivory Coast and Morocco in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers without a natural left footer in defence and the former Kagera Sugar player is expected to fill the void and allow Shomari Kapombe to play in his preferred right full-back position.
With the tournament exclusively featuring players who are playing in the domestic league, the Stars will be without the team’s attacking duo of Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu, who ply their trade at TP Mazembe of DR Congo.
Poulsen returned from holiday in Denmark last Sunday ready for the forthcoming CHAN assignment and is expected to lead a double-session training programme at the Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Having seen their hopes of a dream World Cup appearance end up in smoke after succumbing to a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Ivory Coast last month, the Stars are expected to enter CHAN campaign full throttle.
“We have a good team and our next target is the CHAN before embarking on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2015 finals; that’s where we want to prove a point,” Poulsen said after the World Cup despair.
His right-hand man Sylvester Marsh believes Uganda will prove a tough nut to crack and as the Stars commence their groundwork, he has urged massive support from Tanzanian football fans.
Marsh warned Tanzanians that they should not expect a smooth passage into the 2014 CHAN final, saying the Stars face a tough task eliminating Uganda in the tournament. Uganda, meanwhile, were expected to embark on their preparations yesterday ahead of the mouthwatering fixture.
Uganda’s training was initially scheduled to start last week but was extended to yesterday because coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic had not returned from holiday. The former Yanga trainer took a break in Europe after leading the Cranes to two home wins over Liberia and Angola in the 2014 World Cup qualifying series.
According to report from Uganda, veteran midfielder Hakim Magumba has been left out of Cranes’ squad for the CHAN assignment having initially being listed in the squad.
Source Tanzania Daily News
