AfricaPress-Tanzania: YANGA’s head coach Cedric Kaze is outraged by a section of his players’ selection for their respective countries’ national teams whilst the players have not fully recovered from their injuries.
Midfielder Said Ntibazonkiza ‘Saido’ and central defender, Dickson Job, who had been nursing injuries for a long time, are some of the players named in their respective countries’ national teams, which will play in African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Ntibazonkiza has been selected for Burundi’s national team, whereas Job has been selected for Tanzania’s national team, Taifa Stars.
The duo was registered by Yanga in this season’s mini transfer window, although Saido had started serving the side.
The players were injured and were unable to serve their team, but they last week earned Burundi and Tanzania national teams’ call up.
The move has angered coach Kaze, as the tactician states that the inclusion of the duo in the national teams while they are not yet fit, has confused him.
Job has been named in the Taifa Stars’ squad, coached by Kim Poulsen, for two international friendly matches against Kenya and two AFCON qualifiers, having not played for his club since he was signed due to injuries.
The player suffered an injury while at Taifa Stars’ camp, preparing for this year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN), which ended recently in Cameroon.
Saido has been named in Burundi senior national team.
Kaze said after Job’s injury, the player was treated by Yanga, so coach Poulsen had to contact him to get information about the player.
He disclosed: “Job has just started training to keep fit and he has already been called up, whilst he hasn’t played a single game for us, I don’t mind coach Poulsen probably wants to watch him closely, but that doesn’t stop me from getting information from him to give him the player’s programs so he can get back on the team.”
“Saido is nursing an injury. He has not played for a long time and I wonder why he was called up to his national team, if the coaches had asked me I would have given them information about those players,” he noted.
He expressed fear he will lose the players for a long time if they will pick injuries in their respective national teams’ duties.
Yanga had traveled to Tanga to face Coastal Union in a Vodacom Premier League clash, which will be played today.
