Stars line up Malawi warm-up

Dar es Salaam. Taifa Stars stand-in coach, Salum Madadi, can’t wait to lead the national soccer team out against The Flames of Malawi and Burundi’s Intamba Mu Rugamba later this month.

For Stars, the two friendly matches will be part of their preparations ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Madadi, also the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) technical director, has expressed his excitement ahead of leading out his boys against The Flames and the Burundians.

He took up the job two or so months ago when the national soccer governing body terminated its contract with Kim Poulsen.And the soft-spoken coach can’t wait to take his place on the bench in such high-profile friendly matches.

“I would like to say thank you to the TFF for organizing these games,” said Madadi, whose first match as Taifa Stars interim coach was against Namibia in Windhoek, last month.

Taifa Stars first ever appearance at the Nations Cup finals dates back to 1980 in Nigeria. Their efforts to repeat that memorable feat have always ended miserably.

They will go head-to-head with Burundi on April 26 at the National Stadium in what will be part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

They will swing back into action on May 4 against the Malawians at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya, according to the TFF secretary general, Mwesigwa Celestine.

Taifa Stars, now on recess, will resume residential training on Saturday for the two games.

“Our team is promising and it’s our responsibility to prepare the players in every way possible,” Mwesigwa said.