Ndumbaro rallies Tanzanian teams for CAF dominance
Yanga attacking midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki controls the ball against an FC Augsburg player during a match at the Mbombela Stadium in South Africa. Yanga lost 2-1. PHOTO| COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Tanzania will be represented in the CAF Champions League by Young Africans (Yanga) and Azam FC, with Simba and Coastal Union competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Dar es Salaam. Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro has urged Tanzania’s representatives in the continental club championships to raise the country’s status.
Tanzania will be represented in the CAF Champions League by Young Africans (Yanga) and Azam FC, with Simba and Coastal Union competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Ndumbaro told The Citizen yesterday that they should not underestimate their opponents and that their first goal should be to qualify for the group stages.
He emphasised that after reaching the group stages, teams should concentrate on making it to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.
“Reaching all stages is a massive task. I am aware that all teams are preparing intensively for the new league seasons. They must take advantage of the pre-season, and the government will assist them,” Ndumbaro stated.
Yanga is now in South Africa, Azam FC is in Morocco for pre-season camps and build-up games, and Simba is in Egypt for the same reason. Coastal Union is in residential training in Pemba ahead of the upcoming league season. “I do not doubt the teams’ players’ registrations. I am confident they have recruited players who will elevate the clubs in the continental championships. The task ahead is for them to prove their worth in the CAF matches. They must play with determination to excel,” he said.
The four teams face challenging fixtures as per the CAF draw. Yanga will start their campaign against Vital’O of Burundi. The winner will face the winner between SC Villa of Uganda and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
Azam FC will host APR of Rwanda in the first leg. If they win, they will play against the winner between JKU of Zanzibar and Pyramids FC of Egypt. Coastal Union will start their campaign away against the Bravos of Angola, with the winner facing FC Lupopo of DR Congo in the second preliminary round.
Simba will start in the second preliminary round, playing against the winner between Uhamiaji of Zanzibar and a representative from Libya. The first leg matches of the CAF Champions League will be played between August 16 and 18, with return legs between August 23 and 25.
The second preliminary round of matches is scheduled from September 13 to 15, with return legs a week later. The group stage will start in October and run until February next year.
