Use Rising Stars finals to spot talents, TFF urged

Dar es Salaam. The ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports has called on the Tanzania Football Federation and other stakeholders to use the ongoing U-17 Airtel Rising Stars finals to realise more potential talents.

The minister, Dr Fenella Mukangara, said on Sunday in her opening speech read on her behalf by the deputy permanent secretary, Prof Elisante Ole Gabriel, that by placing emphasis on youth programmes, Tanzania will soon become a football powerhouse.

“All football giants you can think of, have attained such admirable records through youth programmes such as this one,” the minister said in her speech, adding: “Look at the women national team – Twiga Stars. It is full of players drawn from Airtel Rising Stars.”

“Once our football performance is improved we will then get better use of sports to market our tourist attractions such as Mount Kilimanjaro as well as our national parks,” noted the minister.

Dr Mukangara challenged the youngsters to understand the fact that football now stands out to be a reliable source of employment and, by excelling in the game, they will be building a bright future for themselves and their families.

Dr Mukangara also urged the youngsters participating in the tournament to work hard in order to keep alive their dreams of becoming football stars, praising Airtel Tanzania for their continued support of the tournament whose contribution to football development in the country is enormous.

The national finals of the U-17 Airtel Rising Stars tournament that rolled into its second day yesterday at the Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam saw the starlets exhibiting their football prowess.

Morogoro boys displayed their football talents yesterday when they beat Kinondoni 2-1. Kinondoni notched their goal in the first minute through striker Seleman Bwenzi who unleashed a sizzling shot that sailed deep into the net, leaving Morogoro goalkeeper scrawling haplessly.

The opener changed the pace of the game with Morogoro making a series of attacks which however, did not yield any fruits. Until half time Kinondoni were leading 1-0.

In the second half, Morogoro came back a rejuvenated side and their efforts finally paid off in the 58th minute through Barclay Honest who fired directly into the back of the net.

Efforts by Kinondoni to score a second goal proved futile as Morogoro defenders were always alert to clear their opponents’ moves. Morogoro were at it again in the 60th minute when their lethal striker Aziz Rashid single-handedly raced with ball past defenders to slot the ball home.

In the first match at the same venue, Mwanza girls beat Arusha 3-1 in a one-sided encounter.

The victors got their goals through Grace Edward in the 11th minute, Harieth Edward in the 23rd minute and Mwamvita Tabago in the 28th minute.

Arusha girls, who started the tournament by receiving a 0-8 record beating at the hands of Temeke on Sunday, scored their consolation goal yesterday in the 31st minute through Diana Mollel.