By Suleiman Jongo, The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. The national soccer team coach, Danish Jan Poulsen says that it will always be difficult for Tanzania to progress in major football events like the Africa Cup of Nations unless the country invests heavily in soccer.

Poulsen, who succeeded Brazilian Marcio Maximo, who was under pressure to qualify for the continent’s showpiece football tournament, says that the country has to develop young talents and football infrastructures in upcountry regions where there are unspotted talent.

Speaking exclusively to The Citizen after announcing his squad, which took on Morocco in their last night’s decisive match  for a place into next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, Poulsen said that it will always be a “lucky draw” for the team to progress.

“Apart from winning,Tanzania match against Morocco was entirely depending on other team’s results for us to qualify, that is not good in football though mathematically it happens”, said Poulsen.

The Dane was unconvinced that Stars could beat Morocco in their match, though he was optimistic that victory could as well be on their side.

“We need to have serious grassroots programme to produce good quality of players for the good formation of the national side”, said Poulsen.

Tanzania last qualified for the Nations Cup in 1980 when the team was under Joel Bendera, who is now the regional commissioner for Morogoro.

He also said that Tanzania should have a competitive national league with good quality of players.

“The local league has to be respected first before thinking of international football assignments”.

“There is no short cut to success, players should observe discipline and be committed to training,” he said.
Tanzania is probably one of the least successful nations on the African continent with several attempts to qualify for the Africa Nations Cup and the World Cup, but to no avail.

However, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Leodeger Tenga says that the country is making good strides in football.

“Our players have now gained confidence to play against major countries without fear, we try to play as many international build ups as possible to match with the high level of other teams”, Tenga said during a recent press conference.He said the country was struggling to produce quality players as several others like Nizar Khalfan (who plays for Vancouver White Caps of Canada)  are now playing professional career.

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