Bolton FC supported programme (TSA)

THE national youth team head coach, Rodrigo Stockler has called upon premier league clubs to recruit players who featured in the just ended Cecafa youth tournament in Sudan.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Brazilian coach said that the players showed great talents which need more exposure.

“Playing in the premier league will expose them to more competitive matches so as to boost their confidence”, he said.The national youth team finished third in the tournament which
brought together eleven members states.

He noted that most of the players came direct from the Copa Coca Cola tournaments and were not used to club systems.”Its time for them to join well established system”, he said.
He said that the players should be given an opportunity to display their talent, saying that allowing them to go back to their ‘street teams’ will cost the country dearly.

“We are advising that these players should be recruited by the premier teams that we can monitor their progress”, he said.He was supported by his assistant Sylvester Marsh who said that the country’s efforts in promoting young talents need to be complemented by the premier league clubs.

“National team is not a place where a player can be nurtured. This can best be achieved in club system where players spend most of their time and have opportunity to feature in many games”, he said.

“Premier league clubs must look at these players and recruit them to their youth teams. They will become assets for their senior teams and the national team as well.”

Of the 20 players who featured in the Cecafa U-17/ Bashir Cup, five came from Bolton FC set-up, Tanzania Soccer Academy (TSA) and a few had secured deals with premier league teams before heading to Khartoum.

Players from Bolton FC supported programme include Thomas Emmanuel, Hassan Khamis, Hamis Mroki, Issa Rashid, and Richard Elisha.Thabit Hamis came through the Africa Lyon youth system, and he has been joined in the team with towering striker Said Khalfan who featured for Tabora region during the Copa Coca Cola youth tournament.

Other players who have already secured contracts with different premier league clubs are Makalani Mohamed (Azam FC), Lambele Gerome (Moro United), Shaaban Abasi (Yanga), and Hamis Mohamed (Simba).