Samatta due in Dar for Uganda Cranes clash
What you need to know:
- For Uganda Cranes, Sunday’s Afcon match against Taifa Stars will be a mere formality game as they have qualified for the finals
Dar es Salaam. Five foreign-based players are expected in the country today for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier between national soccer team, Taifa Stars, and Uganda Cranes.
The five are team captain Mbwana Samatta, Farid Mussa, Shaaban Chilunda, Farid Mussa and Shaaban Idd Chilunda.
Team manager Danny Msangi said yesterday that Shiza Kichuya and Himid Mao, who play for Egypt’s ENPPI Club and Petrojet SC respectively, were expected to arrive in the country last night.
“So far, so good. We are expecting Samatta, Chilunda, Mussa, Kichuya and Mao to arrive tomorrow (today),” Msangi said.
He named foreign-based players who have reported at camp as Yahya Zayd (Ismaily, Egypt), Hassan Kessy (Nkana FC, Zambia), Thomas Ulimwengu (JS Saoura, Algeria), Simon Msuva (Diffaa El Jadida) and Rashid Mandawa (BDF FC, Botswana).
According to Msangi, Simba players reported at the team’s camp yesterday. The players are Aishi Manula, Erasto Nyoni, Jonas Mkude and John Bocco.
Manula, Nyoni and Bocco featured for the Msimbazi Reds in Saturday’s Caf Champions League clash against AS Vita Club of DR Congo.
Simba came from behind to beat Vita 2-1 in a nail-bitting Group D match at the National Stadium and qualify for the quarter-finals.
Yesterday, Stars underwent a training session at the Boko Beach ground on the outskirts of the city ahead of the Group L game against The Cranes.
They will start training at the National Stadium tomorrow, according to Msangi.
Msangi said the players have been responding positively to coach Emmanuel Amunike’s instructions during their training sessions.
Players who are at camp are goalkeepers Aron Kalambo (Mbeya City), Suleiman Salula (Malindi) and Metacha Mnata (Mbao FC).
Defenders are Vincent Phillipo (Mbao FC), Kennedy Wilson (Singida United), Gadiel Michael (Young Africans), Ally Mtoni (Lipuli FC), Aggrey Morris (Azam FC), Kennedy Wilson (Singida United) and Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans).
Midfielders are Feisal Salum (Young Africans) and Mudathir Yahya of Azam FC.
Taifa Stars need nothing short of maximum points against Uganda Cranes if they are to qualify for the Africon finals to be held in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.
Stars are placed third in Group L with five points. Second-placed Lesotho also have five points but they are ahead on goal difference.
Uganda Cranes, who top the group with 13 points, have already booked a place in the finals, while Cape Verde are at the bottom with four points.
