Abdallah Msuya
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Dar es Salaam — THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has vowed to stick with the incumbent national team, Taifa Stars' manager, Leopard Tasso Mukebezi.
The former international has been barred by his employers, the Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) from joining the team, which is currently preparing for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) match against Somalia.
TFF General Secretary, Fredrick Mwakalebela told the 'Daily News' today that the federation has already written to the TCB management urging them to release Mukebezi.
Mwakalebela said: "We've written to TCB, appealing to them to allow Mukebezi to join the team because we have got a national duty coming ahead and he is part of the team.
He has got a big role to play."
"Right now we're preparing for a significant CHAN qualifying match against Somalia and he's very important to help the team get through this one," he explained Taifa Stars play Somalia in the East and Central Africa Zone CHAN qualifier this Saturday at the Uhuru Stadium.
The match will be played as a one-off tie because the war-torn Horn-of-Africa nation is unable to host international football matches.
Mwakalebela noted that the match is crucial as the country bid to qualify for the second CHAN finals to be staged in Sudan after the inaugural finals, which took place in Cote d'Ivoire early last year.
"At the moment we're preparing for the war. Certainly, we need Mukebezi alongside our team.
It's our hope that his employers will understand the situation we're in and would put the national interest ahead.
Speaking on Mukebezi who was appointed as Stars' manager back in 2007, Mwakalebela said: "He's succeeded in enforcing discipline and commitment among national team players.
Another important thing is that, most of the players are now used to him because they've been under his guidance for a long time and this is very important for the team, because he has got players' confidence."
He added: "He's also been working closely with the national team head coach Maximo (Marcio) since he took charge of the team, so he understand a lot about the coach's programme."
Meanwhile, Taifa Stars opponents, Somalia are expected in the country today, ahead of Saturday's decisive clash with a contingent of 20 players and five officials.
Mwakalebela said all preparations for the showdown have been completed and called on massive support from Tanzanians.
"We've prepared our players technically as well as psychologically and they know importance of this game.
We've informed them that it will be a one off-tie and that if we win, we'll have only one obstacle, that of playing Rwanda, before we could reach CHAN finals."
"The players are fired up with that reality and are raring to go. They have got ambition to make history by reaching the second CHAN finals.
Fans should play their part by turning up in a good number and support their team throughout the game, " he said.