Stage set for Brazil arrival

TFF spokesman Florian Kaijage

World Cup-bound Brazil’s contingent of 60 people, including 23 players, is expected to arrive on Sunday June 6, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) officials confirmed yesterday.

Contrary to earlier reports that the team would arrive on June 5, TFF’s spokesman Florian Kaijage said June 6 is the arrival date.

The five-time world champions would play against Tanzania national soccer team on Monday June 7 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The match to be played under floodlights, kicks off at 18.00 hours to open room for more spectators on this working day to watch the proceedings.

Brazil national team will be making their first ever appearance in the country following the collapse of top flight side Santos FC’s bid in 1974.

TFF president Leodegar Tenga said the arrival of the Brazil national team is a huge boost to domestic soccer and urged fans to accord cooperation to facilitate smooth entourage of the South American soccer giants.

The Brazilians are expected to fly to Zimbabwe for another pre-World Cup friendly ahead of the championship that kicks off on June 11 in Johannesburg.

However, the federation has not unveiled the spectators’ fee to watch the match.

Taifa Stars, who are coached by unsuccessful Brazilian coach Marcio Maximo, are expected to play Rwanda in the return leg of the CHAN qualifier in Kigali a day ahead of Brazil’s arrival.

The match against Brazil will be Stars’ another high-profile encounter against the world’s most reputed and powerful soccer team.

It will be Stars’ second high-profile encounter for the year after hosting Cote d’Ivoire in January at the same venue.

Brazil is the only World Cup qualifiers who have accepted to honour Tanzania’s invitation to play a pre-World Cup friendly after TFF’s unsuccessful bid to lure other teams.

Initially, TFF and the Government had planned to lure World Cup qualifier teams to camp in Tanzania ahead of the championship but the plan fell apart.

Brazil, seeking to extend their World Cup dominance to a staggering sixth title, will certainly be hard nut to crack by underdogs Stars.