U-17 women coach turns focus on Afcon, World Cup qualifiers

Dar es Salaam. National U-17 women team head coach Bakari Shime has said after winning Cosafa Cup in South Africa, they are turning focus on Africa Cup of Nations and World qualifiers.

Shime said this at the team’s arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA Terminal 3) yesterday.

He said that they have reason to celebrate the success of the team in the competition although that is not the end of searching more titles in African continent as well as in the world.

“I am very happy; but I am not satisfied with the victory in the Cosafa tournament. We need to focus on other competitions like Africa Cup of Nations - and we need to qualify for the World Cup,” said Shime. He said that the team comprises talented players who have the dream to do the best in their career. “What they have displayed in South Africa describes how the players have the dream to become heroes in their country. We are still building our team and we have technical issues that we need to rectify in order to have strong team for any and all international competitions,” he said.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Wallace Karia commended the players and officials for the commendable job they have done, making the country proud. Karia said TFF has invested in women football - and what Tanzanians are now celebrating are results of their efforts.

“I congratulate the players for the ir good show in South Africa. You deserve to be complimented for the victory. TFF will continue to support women football and make sure that Tanzania wins top honours in the continental championships and in the world. It is possible to reach the top if we increase our efforts in the game,” said Karia.

Tanzania Women Football Chairperson Amina Karuma also commended the players and coaches for making their country proud by their performance.

Karuma urged the players to take the victory as a challenge for them to do even better in future competitions that the team will compete in.