ALL eyes will be on the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam this Sunday when the national football team, the Taifa Stars, host Morocco in a mouthwatering Group C match of the 2014 World Cup qualifier.
The match could go a long way to deciding whether Taifa Stars progresses further in the competition. Taifa Stars are currently placed second in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers with three points from two matches.
They are one point adrift of group leaders Cote d'Ivoire, with Morocco occupying third with two points, one ahead of bottom-placed Gambia. Therefore a win on Sunday would keep alive Tanzania's dream to reach the World Cup final for the first time ever.
It may sound like wishful thinking but the team is capable of achieving that feat-- they have got the quality and are enjoying their best form at the moment. With determination and self belief, nothing is impossible.
A glance at Taifa Stars' performance in their last international friendly ties suggests that Kim Poulsen's team finally have enough weapons to go head to head with any among Africa's best. We saw here last month, the Taifa Stars defied all odds to silence six-time FIFA World Cup finalists Cameroon's Indomitable Lions 1-0, their first ever win over the West African side.
The victory, which followed another 1-0 victory against dethroned African champions Zambia in a home friendly, should give the Stars confidence as they prepare for Sunday's showdown. The results against Zambia and Cameroon are a clear indication that our team is now capable of beating any team in Africa.
But the task ahead is not a walk in the park, our boys must do extra work to overcome Morocco, who will be desperately looking for a win to improve their position in the group. Poulsen regularly challenges his players to show class, character and pride when they put on the national team jersey... that they should play fast football, make quick decisions and have the right attitude.
We, therefore, expect them to translate the coach's philosophy on the pitch come Sunday. Morocco is ranked amongst the giants of African football and have got talented players who are going to give Stars a tough test but there is no reason our players should get scared because there will be eleven against eleven on the pitch on Sunday.
For the fans, it is important that they turn up by their numbers and cheer our boys throughout. Let's make our players feel real at home. We should support them throughout and make them play confidently. Viva Taifa Stars, viva Tanzania.
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