Africa-Press – Tanzania. TAIFA Stars Head coach Miguel Gamondi says his objectives for the international friendly against Kuwait were fully met despite a narrow 4–3 defeat, a result he downplayed as part of a broader, long-term rebuilding project.
Gamondi shared his reflections on Monday upon the team’s arrival from Egypt, where the match was held at the Al Salam Stadium.
The Argentine tactician stressed that while conceding four goals was disappointing, the fixture provided invaluable insight into the squad’s preparedness ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“Generally, I’m satisfied and happy with my team’s level, even though I’m not pleased with the result we got and as for me, the match against Kuwait was an opportunity to understand my players better and for them to understand exactly what I want,” Gamondi said.
And he insisted that training sessions and friendlies offer crucial opportunities for teams to refine shape, rebuild confidence and strengthen tactical chemistry especially when gearing up for a major continental tournament.
According to Gamondi, one of the biggest accomplishments from the camp in Egypt was developing a more defined playing identity, both offensively and defensively.
The focus, he said, was ensuring the team can attack with clarity and defend with organisation.
“I’ve tried to establish a clear identity for my team when attacking and when defending because I want a strong, well-balanced side,” he explained, stressing his commitment to establishing a disciplined, structured unit.
However, Gamondi was quick to point out that the squad must elevate its work rate if it hopes to achieve meaningful results in upcoming fixtures.
“We need to work even harder heading into the matches ahead. We’ll push to build a strong team so that we can get results in every game we play,” he added, urging players to embrace greater intensity and hunger.
Despite missing four key players Feisal Salum, Mbwana Samatta, Simon Msuva and Ibrahim Abdallah Hamad alias Bacca, Gamondi noted that the team still showed promising signs of stability and depth.
Players Shomari Kapombe and Dickson Job echoed their coach’s sentiments, describing the match as an important learning platform for the team and the newly structured technical bench as they seek more friendly matches ahead of AFCON.
“In the match, there were things we learned such as areas to reduce mistakes and others to improve so that next time we can be even better,” said Kapombe, who expressed confidence in the new technical setup and its preparation roadmap.
Job added that the squad would not dwell on the defeat but instead use it as fuel for growth.
“The key thing is to assess how much the team has progressed. Every player has shown the hunger and desire to earn a place and fight for the nation,” he said, stressing early preparation and personal accountability
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