Sports

TFF names new youth coach

Mr Jakob Michelsen.

THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has named Danish Jakob Michelsen as the new coach for the under 17 and 20 national soccer teams.

Michelsen was introduced to the journalists by the TFF General Secretary Angetile Osiah at the federation’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. The new coach has won a one-year contract to replace his Danish counterpart Kim Poulsen who has been promoted to train the senior team, Taifa Stars.

Osiah said Michelsen’s appointment based on the fact that he shares identical philosophy of free-flowing attacking football with the senior national soccer team coach, Kim. Michelsen is licensed to European Football Association (UEFA) level A coach and is a youth coach approved by the Denmark Football association, DBU Michelsen had previously been head coach of the Danish 1st Division-club Hobro IK and his preferred formation is 4.5.1.

His first will have little time in office before he comes up for his first assignment in charge of the U-20 national soccer team, Ngorongoro Heroes when the Tanzanian youngsters take on their Egyptian counterparts in two friendly matches early next month. The two matches will be played at the 60,000-seater capacity National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday and Thursday next week.

According to TFF, the Heroes will also play two matches against Rwanda on July 14 and 16 this year. The games will form part
of Ngorongoro Heroes’ preparations for their Africa Youth Championship qualifying tie against Nigeria due next month.

Heroes have been scheduled to host the Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for the first leg match on July 29, before the two sides face off in the return leg match in two weeks time in Nigeria. Ngorongoro Heroes marched into the second round of the African Youth Championships qualifiers after defeating Sudan 4-3 on aggregate. The finals will be played in Algeria next year.