My Africa Today

WHILE President Jakaya Kikwete is today scheduled to lead Tanzanians to cheer up the national soccer team, a 19.5m/- bounty awaits Stars after a do or die match with Senegal at the CCM Kirumba Stadium here today.

The president made the promise to attend today’s encounter at the end of his official tour to Mwanza a few weeks ago.

A member of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Imani Madega announced the reward yesterday in Mwanza in the presence of Coach Marcio Maximo and team captain Mecky Maxime.

He said the money had been jointly raised by the TFF and Stars’ chief sponsors Serengeti Breweries Ltd (SBL). TFF contributed 15m/- while SBL put in 4.5m/-

“We would like to announce a non-conditional motivational package of 19.5m/-to Taifa Satrs players and leaders immediately after the match today,” said Madega who is heading the TFF delegation to Mwanza.

Meanwhile, Stars players were in top mood to win the return leg tie against the lions of Teranga from Senegal, national team skipper Mecky Mexime assured Tanzanians on behalf of his fellow players here yesterday.

Mexime told a battery of reporters last evening that good training coupled with moral and material support they had received from the National Coach Maximo, and other Tanzanians, there was every indication that they would win today’s match.

The skipper explained that their coach had drilled them on all mistakes the players committed during their first leg tie in Senegal and that all players were physically and psychologically motivated to face Senegal without fear.

Thrilled by the support his team was receiving from city residents ever since they arrived here on Wednesday, Maximo observed that ordinary people had understood his decision to groom a reliable team gradually rather than preparing a team for a single match.

Responding to critiques that he selected too young players for the national team, Maximo admitted that his team comprised players of three generations to build a team that would last for at least three years, stressing that Tanzania had a lot of nascent talents that ought to be nurtured.

Allaying fear of the presence of a number of professional players in the Senegal team, Maximo said only tactical, technical, physical, psychological support was required for Taifa Stars to win confidence and to jointly employ their talents to the maximum.

Maximo reiterated his call on all stakeholders in the game to refrain from analysing Taifa Stars basing on results of a particular match, arguing that football entailed more than results of a match.

The Simba of Teranga players refused accommodation and transport arranged by their hosts here on Thursday, contending that New Mwanza Hotel and the minibuses were substandard, compared to the services with which Taifa Stars players were provided back home.

Financial Controller of the Senegalese Football Association, Songa Matar Ndiaye, who arrived about a week earlier, had booked a newly built three-star hotel known as Isamilo Lodge situated on the hill on which the British explorer, John Speke, stood when he first discovered Lake Victoria.

The lodge with 25 rooms ranging between 50 and 120-US-dollar each does not only cater for a spectacular view of the lake, but, according to the players first impression, resemble one in France and another in South Africa with the exception of faulty air conditioners, which were, however, rectified yesterday.

In another development, Madega said all preparations and procedures for the match were completed last evening with the exception of referees, who were late yesterday expected to join the match commissar here from South Africa.

Madega paid a glowing tribute to the city residents and media practitioners for supporting and advocating for the team, which, he said, was receiving all necessary services at the camp within the Bonk of Tanzania Institute premises.

He, however, called on soccer fans to cheer the national team peacefully and to reciprocate the generosity the Senegalese had extended to Taifa Stars during the fist leg tie in Dakar.