‘Morocco a stepping stone’

Dar es Salaam. Taifa Stars head coach Kim Poulsen nurses hopes enhancing his career by qualifying the team for the 2014 World Cup, claiming that Morocco will be a stepping stone.

Things are working better for the former youth team coach, but faces a rough month when Tanzania plays Morocco in a Group C qualifier on June 8 before hosting Cote d’Ivoire two weeks later.

Stars sit second with six points, one adrift of leaders Cote d’Ivoire and will have to win at least two of their remaining matches to sail through to the final stage where 10 teams will battle for five tickets.

“This team has all it takes to defy the odds and make history; we just have to take every game seriously and hopefully we will confirm our ambition against Morocco next month,” said the Danish tactician.

A 22-member squad flew to Addis Ababa yesterday where they will play one international friendly against Sudan on June 2 before heading off to Morocco for the return leg encounter.

The travelling party also comprises the technical bench that consists of; Poulsen, assistant coach Sylvester Marsh, goalkeeper’s coach Juma Pondamali, team manager Leopold Tasso, team doctor Mwanandi Mwankemwa, physio Frank Mhonda and kit manager Alfred Chimela.

Stars humiliated the Lions of Atlas 3-1 in the first leg at the National Stadium two months ago and are equally spirited to chalk three more points from the North African falling giants.

“We have an unrivalled ambition to top the group and advance to the next stage; it needs a lot of hard work, but we are ready for the challenge and with a clear focus can go all the way to Brazil next year,” he said.

Meanwhile,the outgoing Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) president Leodegar Tenga has lauded sponsors Kilimanjaro Premium Lager for fulfilling the clauses of a multimillion contract to help Stars.

The sponsors handed over a pair of suit for every member of the travelling squad during a farewell ceremony at the Kempiski Hotel.

THE SQUAD

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Juma Kaseja (Simba), Aishi Manula (Azam), Ally Mustafa (Yanga), Mwadini Ally (Azam)

Defenders: Aggrey Morris (Azam), Erasto Nyoni (Azam), Kelvin Yondani (Yanga), Nadir Haroub (Yanga), Shomari Kapombe (Simba), Vicent Barnabas (Mtibwa Sugar), Waziri Salum (Azam)

Midfielders: Amri Kiemba (Simba), Athuman Idd (Yanga), Frank Domayo (Yanga), Haruna Chanongo (Simba), Khamis Mcha (Azam), Mwinyi Kazimoto (Simba), Mudathiri Yahya (Azam), Salum Abubakar (Azam)

Forwards: John Bocco (Azam), Juma Luzio (Mtibwa Sugar), Mbwana Samata (TP Mazembe), Mrisho Ngasa (Simba), Simon Msuva (Yanga), Thomas Ulimwengu (TP Mazembe), Zahoro Pazi (JKT Ruvu)