Newly appointed Taifa Stars interim coach Charles
Boniface (L) and his assistant Hemed Morocco at a press conference in
Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo courtesy of TFF)
Newly appointed Taifa Stars’ interim coach Charles Boniface Mkwasa yesterday named a provisional squad of 26 players who are lined up for a return leg of the CHAN qualifiers against Uganda to be played in Kampala on July 4.
Mkwasa who is assisted by Mafunzo’s head coach Hemed Morocco has
taken over from axed Dutchman Mart Nooj who was offloaded following a
string of defeats.
The new coach was introduced to members of the press in Dar es
Salaam yesterday by the Tanzania Football Federation’s secretary general
Celestine Mwesigwa.
During the conference, Mkwasa urged fans to restore trust of the
national soccer team in its quest to sparkle at international platform.
He said fans should not be discourage by what happened in the past and instead throw support to fuel good results.
Besides naming the players who open training camp today, Mkwasa
named goalkeeper’s coach as Peter Manyika, team counselor Abdalah
Kibaden and kit manager Hussein Swedi Gaga while Alhaj Ahemd Mgoyi
remains as the coordinator.
The TFF medical committee has also presented names to select the team physician.
Players named for the provisional squad are goalkeeping trio of
Mudathir Khamis (KMKM), Mwadini Ally (Azam) and Ali Mustafa (Yanga).
Defenders are Shomari Kapombe and Aggrey Morris (Azam), Michael
Aidan (Ruvu Shooting), , Haji Mwinyi (KMKM), Nadir Haroub and Kelvin
Yondani (Yanga), Hassan Isihaka and Mohamed Hussein “Tshabalala”
(Simba).
Midfielders are Jonas Mkude and Abdi Banda (Simba), Salum Telela (Yanga) and Frank Domayo (Azam).
Attacking midfielders are Simon Msuva (Yanga), Deus Kaseke (Mbeya City) and Simba duo of Said Ndemla and Ramadhan Singano.
Strikers are John Bocco (Azam), Atupele Green and Rashid Mandawa (Kagera Sugar) and Ame Ally (Mtibwa Sugar).
Mkwasa and Morocco take the team to a cumbersome assignment in both CHAN and African Nations Cup qualifier series.
The next match against Uganda in Kampala is certainly a tall order
for the coaching duo as the first leg ended in 3-0 thrashing despite
massive home ground advantage.
Stars have a huge burden resting on their shoulders to overturn the
three goals deficit into a meaningful victory if they are to win
qualifier berth for the tournament to be staged in Kigali next year. A
minimum of four goals is a target for Stars in Kampala and keeping a
clean sheet will decorate the victory should the team manage. Crossing
the Kampala hurdle will be Stars biggest challenge to accomplish.
Conspicuous omission in the new line-up is replacement of Yanga’s
dependable goalie Deogratius Munishi and recall of his colleague Ali
Mustafa. New inclusions are Mohamed Hussein, goalkeeper Mudathir Hamis,
Michael Aidan and Haji Mwinyi.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN