The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Imani Makongoro
30 November 2011
Dar es Salaam — Players of the National U-20 soccer team (Ngorongoro Heroes) are optimistic that they will win the Cosafa tournament scheduled to kick off today in Gaborone, Botswana.
Speaking before departing Dar es Salaam, one of the players, Omega Seme, said they have trained well ahead of the competition and they aim at making history in the tournament by clinching the title for the first time.
Seme, who also plays for Tanzania Mainland champions, Young Africans, said they want to utilise this chance to win the title for the benefit of the nation.
“We are aware that we are in a tough group that includes Zambia and South Africa, but we are determined to show our football skills in the tournament,” he said.
He said this was the first time for the team to feature in the tournament and therefore called on all Tanzanians to give them all the support they needed.
Ngorongoro Heroes are in group C with Zambia, South Africa and Mauritius. They start their campaign on Saturday by facing Zambia before playing South Africa on December 4. They wind up the first round matches on December 6 by playing Mauritius.
Heroes left the country at 8pm yesterday with 20 players aboard a PrecisionAir flight to South Africa for the tournament that will feature 11 countries.
The team’s head of delegation is Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) executive committee member Muhsin Balhabou. Other officials are head coach, Kim Poulsen, assistant coach, Mohamed Rishard, Joakim Mshanga (physician) and goalkeepers’ trainer Peter Manyika.
Other players who left yesterday are Saleh Malande (Simba), Jackson Wandwi (Azam), Hassan Kessy (Mtibwa Sugar), Khamis Mroki (Mtibwa Sugar), Issa Rashid (Mtibwa Sugar) and Said Samir (Kagera Sugar).
Others are: Samuel Mkomola (Azam), Frank Domayo (JKT Ruvu Stars), Omega Seme (Yanga), Atupele Green (Yanga), Jerome Reuben (Moro United) and Simon Happygod (Azam FC). Also in the list are; Ramadhan Singano (Simba), Abdallah Hussein (AFC), Rajab Mohamed (Moro United), Amani Kyata (TSA), Edward Shija (Simba), Emily Josiah (TSC Mwanza), Frank Sekule (Simba) and Hassan Dilunga (Ruvu Shooting Stars).
AllAfrica – All the Time