Israel Saria
Taifa Stars coach Jan Poulsen yesterday named his provisional squad ahead of the African Nations Cup qualifier first leg tie against Algeria early on September 3.
The coach named the squad here after watching one of the Mainland premiership openers when AFC hosted visiting Azam FC at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium on Saturday.
The named squad would start training today in Dar es Salaam as the coach insisted on punctuality and determination to win the Algeria duel.
The final squad for Algeria is expected to be announced by the coach few days ahead of the trip on August 31.
Only 20 players would board the Algiers -bound flight as Stars take the stage to bid qualifier berth after 30 years.
Not much of the changes has Poulsen made though Mtibwa sugar’s midfielder Shaaban Nditi remain to be an omission from the team.
Nditi who used to a regular choice for Brazilian Marcio Maximo during his four-year training stint, need to work above the call of duty to reclaim his place in the national team.
Goalkeeper Juma Kaseja who is nursing finger injury has also been included in the provisional squad hoping to heal ahead of the clash in Algeria.
Kaseja, the crowd favourite was injured in a build up towards a friendly international against Kenya on August 11 and has remained on sick bay ever since.
Of the foreign based players, Henry Joseph, Idrisa Rajab, Dan Mrwanda and Nizar Khalfan have also been recalled to join the team.
Beside Algeria, Stars are grouped with Morocco and Central African Republic. The last time the team won the continental’s premier nations cup berth was in 1980 when Nigeria hosted and won the event.
The full line up of players released by the coach here are;
Shaaban Kado, Jackson Chove, Juma Kaseja, Shadrack Nsajigwa, Salum Kanoni, Agrey Morris, Erasto Nyoni, Nadir Haroub, Kelvin Yondani, Stephano Mwasika, Juma Jabu, Henry Joseph, Jabir Aziz, Athumani Idd, Nurdin Bakari, Abdulhalim Humoud, Abdi Kassim, Suleiman Kassim, Idrisa Rajab, Uhuru Suleiman, Dan Mrwanda, Mrisho Ngasa, John Boko, Musa Hassan, Jerry Tegete and Nizar Khalfan.
The Stars-Algeria match will be Poulsen’s second match in charge of the team since taking over from Brazilian Marcio Maximo on August 1.
His first attempt barely eleven days after his take over ended with 1-1 draw with visiting Kenya national soccer team, the Harambee Stars.
I hope that with inclusion of most exprienced players , Stars it can make suprise as far as the world football is concerned. God bless players , Godbless Taifa stars, Godbless Tanzania.