Stars, Chad Friendly Called Off

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

25 April 2011

An international friendly match between the national soccer team, Taifa Stars, and Chad set for May 17 at the National Stadium has been called off, Stars coach Jan Poulsen confirmed yesterday.This means Stars, who lost 2-0 to Mozambique in a friendly match in Maputo on Saturday, will play one more warm-up tie before taking on Central African Republic in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Bangui early June.

‘With our match against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana on May 14, three days before the proposed Chad friendly, it seemed inevitable that the May 17 game be called off,” Poulsen said.

The June 17 match would have been the first match between the national team and Chad in any tournament.”We can’t play two international friendlies in a span four day as indicated on the FIFA website,” Poulsen said, adding that he was optimistic their match against South Africa would enable his players to acquire the skills and exposure they need to shine in Bangui.”Right now, our focus is on our match against South Africa.

We need to beat Bafana Bafana so as to be in a perfect frame of mind ahead of our crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic,” he stressed.

When contacted for comment, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) secretary general Angetile Osiah said they Chad football authorities have not informed them on the proposed match.

He said they learnt about the match on the FIFA website, and neither Chad football authorities nor match agents notified them about it.”I think match agents put the information on the FIFA’s website prior to contacting us or Chad football authorities.

We can’t honour the match because we have already confirmed to the South Africa soccer body about the May 14 match,” said Osiah.On Saturday, Poulsen’s team succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Mozambique in an international friendly in Maputo.

Taifa Stars, needing a win so as to avenge a 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of Mozambique during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2007, conceded a goal in each half at Maputo’s National Stadium.

AllAfrica – All the Time