Tanzania National women’s football team, Twiga Stars, are progressing well with training, head coach Rogasian Kaijage said on Friday.
Twiga Stars
“The girls are doing well and are ready for any international friendly match,” Kaijage said during a morning training session at the Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Kaijage, who was recently appointed by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to rebuild the Twiga Stars after a disastrous 2012 African Women’s Championship qualifying campaign, said the players were responding well to training despite several shortcomings at the camp.
“They have been following my instruction perfectly and the newcomers have quickly adapted to the team,” he said, adding that all players are fit except skipper Sophia Mwasikili who is nursing an injured toe.
Kaijage has assembled 30 players for a 10-day training stint which ends on Tuesday. He said following the players’ good response he expects to get a national youth team from within the senior team. “The youngsters are good and they can form an excellent national youth outfit,” he said.
The coach is, however, disappointed by the cancellation of an international friendly against Kenya slated for this month. He revealed in an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ that the players were in high spirit waiting anxiously for the build-up match but are now crestfallen.
Players in camp with their respective clubs in bracket are Nabila Ahmed (Marsh Academy), Nasiria Hashim (Zanzibar), Pulkeria Charaji (Sayari), Rukia Khamis (Sayari), Semeni Abeid (Tanzanite), Sharida Boniface (Makongo Sekondary School), Sophia Mwasikili (Luleburgaz Gucu Spor, Turkey) and Theresa Yona (TSC Academy).
Others are Vumilia Maarifa (Evergreen), Zena Khamis (Mburahati Queens), Amina Ally (Lord Barden), Asha Rashid (Mburahati Queens), Aziza Mwadini (Zanzibar), Esther Chabruma (Sayari), Esther Mayalla (TSC Academy), Etoe Mlenzi (JKT)), Evelyn Sekikubo (Mbarahati Queens), Fatuma Bushiri (Simba Queens), Fatuma Mustafa (Sayari) and Fatuma Omari (Sayari).
The list also includes Flora Kayanda (Tanzanite), Hamisa Athuman (Marsh Academy), Hellen Maduka (Bujora), Hellen Peter (JKT), Irene Ndibalema (TSC Academy), Maimuna Said (JKT), Mwajuma Abdallah (Tanzanite), Mwanaidi Tamba (Mburahati Queens), Mwanahamis Omari (Mburahati Queens) and Mwapewa Mtumwa (Sayari).
By MOHAMED MAMBO, Tanzania Daily News
