Taifa Stars striker Mbwana Samata (left) battles for the ball with a Mozambican defender during the second, first leg of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier. Samata scored, but his goal was not enough to take Tanzania to the qualifiers after losing 2-1 at the Maputo Stadium earlier this year. photo | file
What you need to know:
The team’s striking force will now be marshalled by Samatta, Ulimwengu, Simon Msuva and Juma Luizio ahead of Sunday’s international friendly clash against Swaziland
Dar es Salaam. National soccer team, Taifa Stars, have got a morale booster ahead of their international friendly against Swaziland on Sunday following the recovery of the two Tout Puissant (TP Mazembe) of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) strikers, Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu.
Earlier, the players were ruled out of the squad due to their indisposition and injury, but Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) director of competition, Boniface Wambura, said yesterday that the players have made some improvement and have gone to Johannesburg, South Africa to their 22 colleagues who left for South Africa yesterday.
Wambura said Samatta and Ulimwengu are fit for the encounter and hence the decision to fly them downsouth to join the team camp under the Dutch technician Mart Nooij.
But the team’s roving striker, Mrisho Ngassa, could not travel due to family problems. “Ngassa has permission from Nooij to attend to some family issues,” said Wambura. Despite Ngassa’s absence, there is room for optimism since the presence of both Samatta and Ulimwengu has always made the team’s striking force strong.
The forwards will now be marshalled by Samatta, Ulimwengu, Simon Msuva and Juma Luizio.
Stars will train for two days in Johannesburg before leaving for Mbabane ahead of the encounter.
In other developments; Rwanda U-23 national soccer team, will on December 9 play their Taifa Stars junior counterparts (dubbed Taifa Stars Maboresho) at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The match will be part of building Taifa Stars under the team’s schedule of playing one international match every month.
Meanwhile; a total of 23 referees will take part in the one-day seminar organised by World’s Soccer governing body (Fifa). The seminar will involve first division and Fifa recognised referees. The referees selected for the seminar are Ahmed Juma Simba (Kagera), Arnold Bugado (Singida), Charles Peter Simon (Dodoma), Dalila Jafari Mtwana (Zanzibar), Ferdinand Chacha Baringenge (Mwanza), Florentina Zabron (Dodoma) and Frank John Komba of Coast Region. Also in the list are Grace Wamara (Kagera), Hellen Joseph Mduma (Dar es Salaam), Israel Mujuni Nkongo (Dar es Salaam), Issa Bilali Ali (Zanzibar), Issa Haji Vuai (Zanzibar), John Longido Kanyenye (Mbeya), Jonesia Rukyaa Kabakama (Kagera) and Josephat Deu Bulali of Tanga.
The list also includes Kudra Omary (Tanga), Martin Eliphas Saanya (Morogoro), Mary Kapinga (Ruvuma), Mfaume Ali Nassoro (Zanzibar), Mgaza Ali Kinduli (Zanzibar), Samwel Hudson Mpenzu (Arusha), Soud Iddi Lila (Dar) and Waziri Sheha Waziri of Zanzibar. The referees are required to report at Karume Stadium on Saturday for the seminar to be instructed by Riziki Majala and Soud Abdi.
