Israel Saria
President of the Tanzania Football Federation, TFF, Leodegar Tenga said he is highly confident that Taifa Stars would subdue visiting Morocco national soccer team in the first leg tie of the 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier at the national Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Tenga was speaking to reporters during an official launching of the Serengeti Breweries cheering campaign at the TFF premises yesterday.
The TFF president, who rarely meets the press, said Stars win has to be worked out with joint and collective responsibility.
He said fans should also play their part in intimidating the visitors while boosting morale of the home boys when they are on the field.
“We have everything at our disposal to win this match and I believe the players are confident and capable to shake off the visitors,” said the press-shy Tenga.
“We managed to hold the Algerians who were fresh from the 2010 World Cup at their home soil, therefore we don’t have to worry to beat the Moroccans as well,” said Tenga.
Tenga said entry fees for the match would be affordable to allow a mammoth turn up of spectators to watch the match proceedings.
Poor marketing vision taught TFF a lesson after hiking entry fee in a pre-World cup friendly against Brazil on June 7 in Dar es Salaam with the National Stadium half field as fans shunned to purchase tickets.
He said Stars should win the match to earn some vital points and boost their qualification bid for the finals.
Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union affairs Muhammed Seif Khatib and Stars players joined Serengeti Breweries’ cheering campaign yesterday.
So far TFF has not unveiled the arrival itinerary of the North Africans but the African Arabs are expected mid this week.
Morocco, a regular World and African Nations Cup campaigners, have their football in tatters as they failed to beat minnows Central African Republic in the qualifier opener last month.
Other Stars players Nadir Haroub and Danny Mrwanda have also expressed their optimism over winning the Saturday duel.
Morocco and Tanzania have never met before in any high-profile tourney qualifier or international friendly.
Stars assembled for training mid last week under their new coach Danish Jan Poulsen in Dar es Salaam.
Stars Group D of the qualifiers is open with each team having secured one point after the first round of play.
Stars held Algeria by 1-1 in a match that the hosts rallied from behind to pull an equaliser before their home fans.
Comments
Loading…