Taifa Stars camp nears full house
Taifa Stars forward Mbwana Samata during a recent practice session with the national team. The agile striker and his TP Mzembe teammate Thomas Ulimwengu are expected in Dar tomorrow.
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He added: “Their arrival will be a huge boost for the national team; the spirits will be lifted at the camp and hopefully that will help propel Stars to victory on Sunday.”
Dar es Salaam. Taifa Stars camp will be almost full house tomorrow when TP Mazembe striking duo join the national team for a crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Mozambique.
Thomas Ulimwengu and Mbwana Samata, who ply their trade at the DR Congo champions, will be valuable additions to the Mart Nooj’s team that is gunning to break a 34-year Afcon jinx.
Stars, who have had a mediocre record against the Mambas in yesteryears, take on Mozambique in the second round, first leg match at the 60,000-seater National Stadium on Sunday.
Victory for Stars over the two legs will see them sail through to group stages where they will be pooled in Group F together with former champions Zambia, Cape Verde and Niger.
Boniface Wambura, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) information officer, confirmed the arrival of the duo yesterday, adding that the duo will lift their teammates’ morale at the Tukuyu camp.
“There were lingering fears over the prospects of having the TP Mazembe stars in the team, but they have confirmed their availability for the Mozambique match. We’re expecting them here on the afternoon of Wednesday (tomorrow),” said Wambura.
He added: “Their arrival will be a huge boost for the national team; the spirits will be lifted at the camp and hopefully that will help propel Stars to victory on Sunday.”
Wambura, however, could not disclose the date for the arrival of midfield kingpin Mwinyi Kazimoto, who features for Al Markhiya of Oman.
“As for Kazimoto, we are not so sure of his arrival, but we hope that his team will release him on time to face Mozambique,” he said.
Stars pitched a two-week training camp in Botswana last month where they endured mixed results in friendlies, but have stepped up gear at their Tukuyu base.
“The report we have from Tukuyu is encouraging; the players are in the right frame of mind heading into the match and there are no injury worries,” he disclosed.
The players who are in camp are Benedictor Tinoko and inexperienced outfield sextet of Joram Nason, Edward Charles, Pato Ngonyani, Kelvin Friday, Said Juma and Mwegane Yeya.
There are also familiar faces like Deogratias Munishi, Aishi Manula, Kelvin Yondani, Said Moradi, Nadir Haroub, Shomari Kapombe, Oscar Joshua and Aggrey Morris.
Others are Amri Kiemba, Erasto Nyoni, Jonas Mkude, Haruna Chanongo, Himid Mao, John Bocco, Simon Msuva, Ramadhan Singano, Khamis Mcha and Mrisho Ngasa.
According to the TFF official, Taifa Stars will fly back to Dar es Salaam on Friday ready for the encounter.
