Africa-Press – Tanzania. TAIFA Stars Head Coach Kim Poulsen said the reason they have not pitched camp ahead of the upcoming 2021 CECAFA Under-23 Challenge Cup in Ethiopia is because of the Premier League season which ends today.
The country’s junior team players who have been placed in the same group together with Uganda and DR Congo are set to assemble tomorrow before departing to Ethiopia on Tuesday, July 20th ready for their first match on Thursday, July 22nd against DR Congo.
“Normally, I always say in press meetings that the will to win is important but the will to be prepared is more important. But unfortunately, this time, we did not have a chance to bring players in camp and do preparations.
“Why? Because the Premier League is on at the moment and expect to end on Sunday(today) as such; we cannot take players for camp since there are many teams fighting to avoid relegation.
“As such, we have to wait until Sunday final matches before assembling the team on Monday ready for the trip,” Poulsen said.
He also narrated that some players for Young Africans and Simba will not be taken on board because of their Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) finals slated on July 25th in Kigoma.
“Unfortunately, players for Young Africans and Simba who could be in the team like Dickson Job, Feisal Salum and so on will not be there because they have Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) finals on July 25th and it is their first priority, we understand that,” Poulsen said.
Again, the coach narrated that no players who trade outside the country have been picked for the mission and disclosed that they expect stiff competition from both Uganda and DR Congo.
He also noted that the Under-23 is the link and feeding line for the Taifa Stars since they are future players.
“We are allowed to bring 20 players for the tournament who are born in 1998 or later and inside the number, three players can be senior (those born before 1998) hence the reason to include Sospeter Israel (Azam), Reliant Lusajo (Namungo) and Yusuph Mhilu (Kagera Sugar),” he said.
The full squad members ready to be deployed for the mission are Metacha Mnata (Yanga), Daniel Mgore (Biashara United), Wilbol Maseke (Azam), Israel Mwenda (KMC) and Nickson Kibabage (Youssofia FC Morocco) who is already in Dar es Salaam.
Others are Lusajo Mwaikenda (KMC), Sospeter Israel (Azam), Oscar Masai (Ihefu), Lucas Kikoti (Namungo), Joseph Mkele (Mtibwa Sugar), Rajab Athuman (Gwambina), Meshack Abraham (Gwambina) and Reliant Lusajo (Namungo).
The list also has Erick Mwijage (Kagera Sugar), Andrew Simchimba (Ihefu), Abdul Suleiman (Coastal Union), Pascal Msindo (Azam), Abdulrazack Hamza (Mbeya City), Abdulmajid Mangalo (Biashara United) and Yusuph Mhilu (Kagera Sugar).
