Africa-Press – Tanzania. AZAM have maintained that their target next season is to reach into group stage of any international competition; they will be eligible to compete for.
This comes after Tanzania was cleared to deploy two teams in CAF Champions League and other two sides in CAF Confederation Cup respectively, hence the ‘icecream makers’ are confident to feature in either of them.
Making this declaration recently was the club’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdulkarim Amin ‘Popat’, who said they have never succeeded to reach in group stage of the two biggest football showpieces on the continent.
“We are certainly going to compete in international competitions next season that is why we are retaining most of our key players by extending their contracts in order to take us far in the competitions. “We are going to sign three more new players as recommended by coach, so as to strengthen areas which he thinks needs a boost like midfield and striking department,” Popat said.
He continued: “Our target is to reach in group stage because we have never reached that far. If we go beyond that, it will be a bonus but our main objective is to storm into the last 16.”
Moreover, the Azam boss seized the opportunity to denounce claims that the reason behind extending contract of their top striker Prince Dube was to block offers from big teams in the country.
“We have not received any official offer(s) for Dube as such, those were just mere speculations from social media platforms. But, after extending his contract, it means his value continues to go up.
“It is normal for any good player to be hunted by other clubs but for us, we also need his services a lot more than those who want to sign him,” he said.
However, Azam have one best chance to be crowded champions only if they manage to lift the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) title this season.
They excelled to hammer Rhino Rangers 3-1 to book a semifinal slot of ASFC where they will face defending champions Simba at Majimaji Stadium in Songea, Ruvuma.
