Tanzania: Make us Proud, U-23 Team Told

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

16 June 2011

Dar es Salaam. The government has exhorted the national Under-23 soccer team to put up a spirited fight against tenacious Nigeria in their crucial 2012 Olympic Games qualifier in Benin City on Sunday.The challenge was made by sports development deputy director in the ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Juliana Yasoda yesterday.

“All Tanzanians will rally behind you during Sunday’s match, thus there is a need for you to flex your muscles so as to oust Nigeria and cruise into the final stage of the championship,” Yasoda said during the team’s farewell.

“Early this year, you made Tanzanians proud after eliminating Cameroon, we thank you for that. We believe you have what it takes to repeat the feat at the expense of Nigeria,” she said.

Yasoda urged the players to be good ambassadors of the country in Nigeria by silencing the Nigerians at their own backyard, saying such a feat could restore Tanzania’s dented pride in the African soccer.

She said a win over Nigeria could send a warning note to their next opponents and open a new chapter in the country’s football history.”You have done a commendable task so far, but don’t be complacent. You need to be more diligent and focused in order to achieve the set goal, I am sure you can achieve the mission,” she insisted.

The youth team, which leaves for Nigeria today for the return leg match of the London Games qualifiers, enjoys a 1-0 lead they registered in the first leg game at the National Stadium about two weeks ago.

They, therefore, need a draw of any margin on Sunday to make it into the group stage of the quadrennial Games.

Speaking at the same occasion, TFF president Leodegar Tenga urged the players not to be fazed by their opponents’ home crowd during the match.

For his part, head coach Jamhuri Kihwelu predicted a tough game, but remained optimistic that Sunday’s decider would produce positive results for his team.

The team leaving for Benin City en route to Lagos comprises 18 players and five officials.

The team was earlier scheduled to jet off yesterday, but its departure was rescheduled later due to what TFF described as technical reasons.

Meanwhile, reports from Abuja had it yesterday that Super Eagles and VVV Venlo winger Ahmed Musa joined the Flying Eagles on Wednesday ahead of their must-win qualifier against Tanzania.The player, who was in action in the Super Eagles last two games against Argentina and Ethiopia, was in high spirits on arrival to the Dream Team camp.

“I am excited to be here. I have been speaking with the coach. I am here for business and I am raring to go,” he said on arrival.The former Kano Pillars star is expected to begin training with the team this morning and the arrival of Musa has taken the number of players in the camp to 26.

Coach Austin Eguavoen is expected to drop some players after the team’s last training session today.

In another development, Italy’s AC Milan winger, Nnamdi Oduamadi on Tuesday night left the team’s camp for Lagos to get further medical attention following an ankle injury he sustained during Monday’s practice.

“I will be back on Friday (today) and I have no doubt at all that I will play against Tanzania,” he assured.

Nigeria must beat Tanzania by at least two clear goals to make it to the final phase of the Olympic qualifiers in December.The match will kick off at 4pm.

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