Maximo drops Stars trio

Taifa Stars head coach Marcio Maximo announced his new-look squad of 24 players for Taifa Stars in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

In his new squad, the coach has dropped midfielders Haruna Moshi, Athumani Idd and left back Amir Maftah.

The trio`s axe was highly expected after they misbehaved in Cote d`Ivoire during the ongoing CHAN championship.

While Maftah and Idd`s exclusion has been obscured by their club commitment as Young Africans are gearing up for next week`s CAF Champions league away match against National Al-Ahly, Moshi is an obvious exclusion.

Prolific as they are, Idd, Maftah and Moshi should forget Maximo`s call to the national team as long as he remains coach.

Maximo, who is reputed for stringency when it comes to poor discipline, has replaced the trio with new generation of players.

The Brazilian coach has reiterated the need for well disciplined players in his squad to ease management and build up a formidable side.

The Brazilian trainer, who took Stars in September 2006, said players should have positive attitudes, commitments, discipline, good image and patriotism beside performance on the field.

Stars returned from Cote d`Ivoire on Wednesday with Idd and Moshi involved in bizarre events soon after landing at the Julius Nyerere International Airport, mainly avoiding the media.

Stars are playing an international friendly against visiting Vancouver Whitecaps at the National Stadium on March 14.

The North American team arrived in Dar es Salaam with a contingent of 20 players and ten officials yesterday
The team`s head coach, Teitur Thordarson, promised to use the three matches, one each against Simba and Yanga, to scout talents where possible.

In his new squad, Maximo has included JKU goalkeeper Eddy Bushiri, George Minja (JKT Ruvu), David Naftar (Simba) and John Bocco (Azam FC).

Promoted from under-20 players are Khalid Haji (Sabebe), Furaha Yahya, Haji Ally, Ahmed Hassan and Yanga`s Razak Khalfan.

Moro United`s player Stephano Mwasika and Mtibwa Sugar`s duo of Zahor Pazi and Uhuru Selemani have been reinstated into the team.

The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Shabani Dihile (JKT Ruvu), Deogratius Mushi (Simba) and Eddy Bushiri (JKU).

Defenders: Erasto Nyoni (Azam FC), Salum Swed (Mtibwa), Kelvin Yondan (Simba), David Naftari (Simba),George Minja (JKT Ruvu), Juma Jabu (Simba) and Stephano Mwasika (Moro United).

Midfilders: Henry Joseph (Simba), Shabani Nditi (Mtibwa), Jabir Aziz (Simba) Nizar Khalfan (Moro United), Mwinyi Kazimoto (JKT Ruvu).

Strikers: Musa Hassan (Simba), John Bocco (Azam), and Mtibwa Sugar`s duo of Zahor Pazi and Uhuru Selemani.

Meanwhile, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) secretary general Fredrick Mwakalebela has announced entry fees for Stars-Vancouver Whiecaps match as follows; VIP A, B and stands 20,000/, 15,000/- and 10,000/- respectively. Orange stands 5,000/- while green and blue stands 3,000/-.

• SOURCE: Guardian