AfricaPress-Tanzania: FORMER Azam FC and national side ‘Taifa Stars’ defender, Said Mourad, has turned to beach football, with the player being one of those selected for the national beach soccer team’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Mourad, who has not been seen in neither the Premier League nor First Division League (FDL) for a long time, is among the 23 membes of national beach soccer team that will have two matches to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations’ finals.
The national beach soccer team will confront Burundi on March 30 and April 2.
Boniface Pawasa, national beach soccer team’s coach, said that they have decided to include Mourd due to the many technical qualities he has that enabled him to do well in the sport.
“Morad’s great reputation is his ability to defend well when he plays against opposing outfits,” he noted.
Pawasa added: ”He has moreover been making good use of the ball, so, he will help us a lot.”
He disclosed: ”He is also a fit player and this game really needs someone to be fit so I believe Morad will help us in that.”
Pawasa further disclosed Mourad has international experience so he will add quality to the team especially for youngsters who have never been challenged in international matches.
He, however, noted as the defender is still a newcomer to the game, there are a few tactics they are adding to him and he believes if the player gets used to them, he will be a dependable player in the team.
Commenting on the coming match against Burundi, Pawasa said they have high hopes of doing well despite the competition they will face.
He noted: “Burundi are a good team and they have been showing a lot of competition every time they play and so we need to plan well considering there are many new players.”
He insisted: ”I, though, believe we will be fine and we will knock them out of the qualifiers.”
Winners of the two-leg qualifiers between Tanzania and Burundi will secure a ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations’ finals, to be played in Senegal in May.
