AFTER a week of international break, Mainland Premier League clubs especially those in an intensive battle for top seat, wasted no time to intensify their drills ahead of this weekend’s fixture.
Immediately after the national team, Taifa Stars jetted in yesterday from Benin, players were dispatched to their respective clubs. Stars faced Benin, The Squirrels at the Stade de l’Amitié (Stadium of Friendship) in Cotonou in an international friendly, which ended in a 1-1 draw last Sunday.
Stars under the tutelage of Salum Mayanga, put up a gallant performance against their hosts, who took the lead through a controversial spot kick in the first half converted by skipper, Stephane Sessegnon.
Stars fought back and levelled the matter in the second half through Elias Maguli, who connected home a superb cross from Shiza Kichuya. TFF hailed the fighting spirit displayed by Taifa Stars in Benin.
Addressing members of media yesterday at the federation’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam, TFF Media and Communications Officer Alfred Lucas said the country’s team produced gallant fight worth recognition.
“We played against the team which is better placed on FIFA rankings than us hence returning home with a draw was not something to be taken for granted,” Lucas said.
Lucas confirmed that the federation dispatched Stars’ players to their respective teams, so that they could serve their clubs in this weekend’s league fixture.
Lucas confirmed that Simba players -- Aishi Manual, Jonas Mkude and Shiza Kichuya left for Mbeya few hours after landing in Dar es Salaam, to join their team in preparations for their Saturday’s league game against Tanzania Prisons at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium.
Simba is targeting a consecutive win in the Southern Highland city, after they picked a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Mbeya City in the previous game with the lone winning goal scored by the tantalising slippery winger Shiza Kichuya.
According to Lucas, Simba who are the current league leaders needed their players immediately so as they can join the rest of their colleagues in their preparations for the encounter against Prisons.
Simba need to win their game to maintain their stay at the top of the league table as their close competitors for the position Azam FC and rivals Young Africans will be in action on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Azam will be away from their Chamazi Complex in Dar es Salaam, as they will be travelling to Njombe region to face Njombe Mji.
The ice-cream makers club had two players in the national squad -- Mbaraka Yusuph and Himid Mao. Mao captained Stars in Benin in the absence of skipper Mbwana Samatta, who missed the game due to injury. Simba and Azam are tied on 19 points but they are separated on goal difference.
Yanga, who will face Mbeya City at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam are just two points adrift and this is what promises stiff battles for the top seat this weekend.
Yanga had five players in the national squad -- Ramadhani Kabwili, Kelvin Yondani, Gadiel Michael, Raphael Daud and Ibrahim Ajib, who have also joined their team in preparation for their game against Mbeya City.
According to the league fixture, Singida United whose midfielder Mudathir Yahya was with Stars in Benin will welcome Iringa’s Lipuli FC at their Namfua Stadium in Singida on Friday, while on Saturday Ruvu Shooting will host Ndanda FC at the Mabatini grounds in Coast Region. Stand United will face Mwadui FC at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga and Majimaji FC will be entertaining Mbao FC at the Majimaji Stadium in Songea.
In another development, TFF revealed that the country’s top flight league is scheduled to go for a short break immediately after the tenth round in order to pave way for the incoming Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) slated to begin on November 25 to December 9 this year in Kenya.
The participation of Tanzania in CECAFA tournament which bounced back after two years of absence was confirmed recently by TFF Acting Secretary General Kidao Wilfred, who said the Mainland Tanzania will be represented by Kilimanjaro Stars, while Isles will field Zanzibar Heroes.
Addressing media then, Wilfred assured the nation that Kilimanjaro Stars are ready for the tournament such that bringing home the trophy which Tanzania last won in 2010 will be the team’s first priority.
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