Tanzania: Poulsen Set to Miss Stars-Bafana Friendly

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

28 April 2011

After tumbling 2-0 to Mozambique, Taifa Stars look forward to bouncing back against South Africa in a friendly.However, head coach Jan Poulsen will not lead the Stars when they come head-to-head with the Bafana Bafana on may 14 at the National Stadium.The Danish tactician was recently instructed by the world governing body-FIFA- to conduct some clinics in Gambia from May 6 to 14.

“It’s unfortunate that I will miss this big match, but there is no option, I have to delegate powers to my assistants and hopeful that nothing will go wrong.”My assistants (Sylvester Marsh and Juma Pondamali) are competent enough to guide the team past the South Africans,” he said.

The Dane added: “I have already prepared a programme for the forthcoming friendly and I believe Taifa Stars will smart off from the defeat well,” he said.”I’m a FIFA instructor and my trip to Gambia is a great opportunity to boost my career,” he added.

The Stars will also miss the services of dependable striker Mrisho Ngassa and defender Stephano Mwasika.

The two stars sustained injuries recently, which would rule them out of the friendly and perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations return leg match against the Central African Republic.Poulsen disclosed that Ngassa will be out of action for a month or so following his hamstring injury, but fell short of disclosing Mwasika’s layoff.

The injury also rules the speedy attacker out of Saturday’s All Africa Games return leg qualifier against the Kobs of Uganda at the National Stadium.”It’s a big blow for Taifa Stars because he is an influential player, but there are other players who can deputise,” he said.

Mwasika, who aggravated his knee injury, is set to depart for India in a few days where he will undergo a knee operation.The Young African defender is likely to be on the treatment table for al least six months.

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