Ex-players call for change after loss
Algeria’s Islam Slimani (centre) dribbles the ball as Tanzania’s Kevin Yondani (left) and Himid Mao defend during their Fifa World Cup 2018 qualifying match in Blida on Tuesday. Algeria won 7-0. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
Stars, who played out a 2-2 draw against Algeria in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier, slumped to a 7-0 loss, thus exiting on a 9-2 goal aggregate.
Dar es Salaam. They say when it rains it pours. That is exactly what became of Taifa Stars who were left drenched at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida on Tuesday night.
Stars, who played out a 2-2 draw against Algeria in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier, slumped to a 7-0 loss, thus exiting on a 9-2 goal aggregate.
The big-margin defeat, the first in the country’s history, has shocked many with some vowing not to support the national team again unless the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) comes up with lasting solutions that will turn Stars into a formidable force.
Reacting to the humiliation, former Stars players have expressed their disappointment over the loss and called on the authorities to put in place apt strategies to rid the nation of shame.
Ex-Zanzibar Heroes and Stars player Abdallah Maulid said he was shocked and saddened by the result, which he said enters into the country’s soccer record books.
“It is a shame. I was shocked and saddened by the way our team lost to Algeria. The TFF has nowhere to hide, they must come up with an alternative way of making Stars a stronger side,” said Maulid who played for KMKM and Miembeni in the 1970s and hanged his boots in the early 90s.
He added: “We all witnessed our collapse. The technical bench did a lot, but our main undoing over the two legs was failure by our players to read the game. We still have a long way to go.” Lawrence Mwalusako, ex-Stars defender, said Tanzania deserved the defeat and will go on losing unless the TFF and clubs shift focus on youth football.
“It pains losing like that, but we can’t avoid such defeats if we don’t invest heavily in youth soccer. It was a shame to the nation because we have never lost by such a big margin,” he said.
Mwalusako also blamed the TFF for picking a “victory committee” that did not include former Taifa Stars players.
Another former Stars player, Mohamed “Adolph” Rishard also said the 7-0 loss was a disgrace to Tanzania, adding that it should serve as a turning point to save the country’s football.
“It is difficult to describe it. We have lost before, but not by this margin. It is too bad and it must help us now in soul-searching,” he said.
Stars recent heavy defeat was a 5-0 hiding by Kenya in 2002.
