The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Majuto Omary
21 May 2011
Dar es Salaam — After days of preparations, the stage is now set for this year’s Kili Taifa Cup quarter finals kicking off today at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha.There has always been a number of upsets during the last eight of the annual tournament, and this year’s event is expected to follow that tradition.
Defending champions Kindai Shooting Stars of Singida, gunning for a back-to-back silverware collection, take on two-time champions Ilala in what promises to be a nail-biting duel.
The match starts at 2pm.Preparations for the tournament, which serves as a grooming ground for Premier League clubs and national team, are in place, according to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) information officer, Boniface Wambura.
On paper, Kindai Shooting Stars, who finished top of Group A in the round-robin stage in Tabora early this month, start as favourites.The Singida boys surprised many last year by putting up a tantalizing performance that saw them floor fellow minnows and favourites alike on their way to snatching the title.
The Singida team, then under the tutelage of former Simba midfielder Seleman Matola, defied the odds to silence pre-tournament favourites Lindi in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since the event’s incision.
But they should not expect an easy ride today as Ilala have vowed to regain the trophy they last clinched in 2009.
Ilala coach Hassan Banyai said yesterday that his players were in high spirits, looking forward to grabbing the three points at stake in today’s match.
” I’ve much respect for Singida, they are a good team,” said Banyai.”However, our fans should expect positive results in tomorrow’s match because we know how to contain them.”His Kindai Shooting Stars counterpart Abdallah Msamba, one of the best defenders of his generation, said their attention is not only to beat Ilala, but also retain the title.
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