Poulsen hones strikers

Mwanza. Taifa Stars’ head coach, Kim Poulsen, says there is a need for his side to sharpen its attacking approach to stand any chance of knocking Uganda out of the first round of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers.

Stars lost 1-0 to Uganda in the first leg of the qualifiers at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam last Saturday and the former will, therefore, need a win of over two goals in the return leg to progress to the next stage.

“We need to sharpen our attacking approach in the return leg…we need to take our chances. We didn’t score in Dar es Salaam, so, we have to score in Kampala and, of course, we need to strengthen our defence as well so that we cannot concede more goals”, Poulsen said in an interview with The Citizen.

Stars’ striking force, led by towering Azam FC forward, John Bocco, failed to make the most of several chances it had in front of Uganda’s goal in the last Saturday game. Diminutive, speedy striker, Mrisho Ngasa, resorted to long range attempts on several occasions but his efforts went way off the target.

The Danish tactician also expressed delight at Stars’ opportunity to camp in Mwanza to prepare for the return leg, saying the region’s weather is similar to the one found in Kampala and, therefore, offers a favourable condition for preparations.

Stars are currently in Mwanza for a week long training camp to prepare for the return leg game, scheduled for next week in Kampala. Stars’ manager, Leopold Tasso, said the squad will stay in the Lake Zone region until Tuesday next week.

The squad undergoes evening training sessions at the Kirumba Stadium under the supervision of Poulsen, his assistants, Sylvester Marsh and Juma Pondamali, as well as another Danish coach, Jacob Michelsen, who also trains national junior teams.

Poulsen also noted that he is aware the Chan qualifiers are taking place during the holy month of Ramadhan and that poses a huge challenge to the majority of his players, who are observing fasting.

“It (the holy month of Ramadhan) is not an easy month in football. Most of our players are fasting, so, it’s a challenge to us. Football players need energy…they need to eat and drink water so they can train properly”, he said.

Poulsen further refused to comment on the absence of Stars’ midfielder, Mwinyi Kazimoto, in the Mwanza camp, saying the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is in the better position to talk about the matter.

He insisted he has faith in the players he has in the squad and will only focus on intensive preparations for the Chan qualifiers’ return leg.

Kazimoto, who was in the first choice squad in the last Saturday match, went AWOL shortly after the match.

and, according to TFF information officer, Boniface Wambura, Azam FC’s young midfielder, Mudathir Yahya, has been called to replace Kazimoto.

Stars’ manager, Tasso, said morale in the squad is extremely high presently and the players have expressed determination in overturning the first leg score line.

“The hopes of overturning the first leg score line are huge. Morale was a bit low among the players shortly after the (Saturday) match but things changed a few days later…scoring in Uganda is possible, they (Uganda) beat us 1-0, so, we need to score in the return leg and that will put them under pressure”, Tasso, the former Stars’ defender, said.