Tanzania/Nigeria: Ngassa to Miss Nigeria Match

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

14 June 2011

Dar es Salaam — The national U-23 soccer team head coach, Jamhuri Kihwelu, has dropped striker Mrisho Ngassa from his team that leave for Abuja, Nigeria tomorrow for the 2012 Olympic Games second round, return leg qualifier against Nigeria.

In an interview with The Citizen yesterday, Kihwelu attributed his decision to leave out the slippery marksman to alleged indiscipline.

The outspoken coach said Ngassa, who also features for the national senior soccer team, Taifa Stars, defied his (Kihwelu’s) instructions to join the youth team at camp last week.

“He was supposed to join the team soon after the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Taifa Stars and Central African Republic, but for reasons best known to himself, he never bothered to so,” said Kihwelu.

Ngassa is among key youth team players who did not feature for the team during their first leg match against the Nigerians at the National Stadium about two weeks ago due to other national duties.

Striker Mbwana Samatta, who features for DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, midfielder Jabir Aziz and goalkeeper Shaaban Kado also missed the match because they were in Bangui with Taifa Stars for the Nations Cup match against CAR.

“His absence will not affect my team because I have other players at my disposal who are equally good,” insisted Kihwelu.

“The players I have at camp are disciplined and committed to feature for the team, I am optimistic they will make Tanzanians proud in Nigeria,” he added.Kihwelu admitted that they still have a herculean task ahead, but remained optimistic that the return leg match will produce positive results for his team.

He promised to unveil his squad for the Nigeria match today at the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) offices.

Meanwhile, Young Africans’ news signings Kenyan Tonny Ndolo, former Majimaji’s Said Mohamed, Pius Kisambale from JKT Ruvu and ex-Kagera Sugar’s striker Godfrey Taita have joined the Dar es Salaam team.

Yanga have been undergoing off camp at Kaunda Stadium to shape up for this year’s East and Central Africa club tournament kicking off later this year.

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