Serengeti Boys to hone skills in Jordan ahead of Congo tie

Dar es Salaam. The national under-17 team, Serengeti Boys, will pitch a camp in Amaan, Jordan in preparation for the third and final round of the 2017 African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers.
The gutsy Tanzanian boys booked a place in the final qualifying round on Sunday after ejecting South Africa on a 3-1 goal aggregate at the Chamazi Complex.
Tanzania won the second leg 2-0, completing a marvellous job they had started in Johannesburg two weeks ago when they played out a one-all draw against the Amajimbos.
Serengeti Boys will now meet Congo-Brazzaville in mid-September. The Congolese saw off Namibia on a 5-1 goal aggregate.
“Plans are afoot for the Serengeti Boys to camp in Amman. They will train and play a few build-up matches there before facing Congo. We hope that the camp will benefit our team significantly,” said a Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) insider.
Serengeti Boys is only team from the East African Community remaining in contention for a place in next year’s AYC finals in Antananarivo.
In the Council of East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) region, other teams still in the competition are Sudan and Ethiopia.
The TFF president, Jamal Malinzi, commended the boys for seeing off the South Africans, but could not disclose which country they are planning to send the team to for training.
“I can confirm that they will soon depart for a training stint abroad, but we have yet to make the final decision on right country. The next qualifying match is tough, so we need proper preparation,” said the president.
Malinzi disclosed that the government through the ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports has promised to support the team’s camp.
“We are grateful to the government for pledging support for the team ahead of their next qualifier. It is our belief that this will be a morale-booster for the team as they strive to reach the finals,” he said.
Serengeti Boys were kicked out at this stage by the same opponents in 2012. Tanzania won 1-0 at home before slumping to a 2-0 loss in Brazzaville.
On Sunday, a goal each from Mohammed Abadallah and Muhsin Makame was more than enough for Tanzania to beat South Africa and seal a date with Congo.
The home side started the game with high pace and agility but tacking duo Yohana Mkomola and Abdallah failed to convert their chances in the opening 25 minutes.
The Amajimbos struggled in search of their feet forcing them to do an early substitution after only 27 minutes when Ndamolelo Radzilane made way for Bonga Dladla.
Five minutes later, Shaban Ada missed a sitter that could have given his side the lead before substitute Dladla saw his first touch land in the hands of Tanzania goalie Ally Msengi.
Abdallah scored the opener in the 34 minute converting a Mkomola’s cross from the left. Just before the break, the host suffered a blow after Alli Ng’anzi was sent off after a reckless foul on an opponent.
The second half started on the same tempo with each side having opportunities to score in the opening quarter-hour. South Africa’s Siphamandla Ntuli was the worst culprit fumbling at goal on three occasions.
Tanzania coach Bakari Shime pulled out Mkomola for Makame on the hour mark and the impact was soon felt.
 Makame scored the second goal six minutes from time from an Abdallah counter to seal victory and cement their place in the third and final round.