Israel Saria
The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has appointed two local coaches to train the Mainland national team, Kilimanjaro Stars.
TFF Secretary-General Angetile Osiah yesterday named the trainers as Jamhuri Kihwelu `Julio’ and Charles Boniface Mkwasa.
He said the coaches will train the team ahead of the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup set to kick off on November 25 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Osiah said that TFF believed the two trainers were experienced enough to enable defending champions Kilimanjaro Stars retain the title they won last year at the same venue.
Kihwelu is the head coach of the premier league side Coastal Union of Tanga while Mkwasa trains another premier league side, Ruvu Shooting and the national women soccer team, Twiga Stars.
This is the first such appointment for Kihwelu while Mkwasa has been on and off in the team.
Kilimanjaro Stars have been placed in Group A together with Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars, Djibouti and Ethiopia.
Appointing the two coaches comes in the wake of complaints raised by soccer fans, seeking that Danish coach Jan Poulsen concentrate on Taifa Stars and leave the work of training the Mainland team to locals.
However, when Julio was contacted for comment about his appointment he said he was unaware of it.
“TFF has not informed me about the appointment but if they have announced that I am ready to take the job,” Julio said.
Mkwasa could not be reached for comment.
The Challenge Cup will attract 12 teams. Others are Kenya’s Harambee Stars, Uganda Cranes, Sudan, Burundi, Zanzibar, Somalia, Eritrea and invited Malawi.
Other matches will be played at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.
The championship is organized every year by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa).
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