Sports

Bahanuzi, ‘Chuji’ earn Stars call

YOUNG Africans new sensational striker Said Bahanuzi, has broken into the fold of the national senior soccer team ‘Taifa Stars.’

The CECAFA Kagame Cup ‘Golden Boot’ winner, who capped his fine performance in the regional club championships with a brilliant final goal against Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, is among 21 players summoned by Dane Coach Kim Poulsen, ahead of an international friendly match against an unnamed opponent away on August 15.

Yanga’s holding midfielder, who has hit back his top form Athumani Idd, alias ‘Chuji’ has also earned a call back into the nation national team, after almost two years of being overlooked. Prior to unveiling the team, many soccer pundits had predicted for an inclusion of Bahanuzi, who was unstoppable at the Kagame Cup.

The former Mtibwa Sugar and Zanzibar Ocean View striker scored six goals in the campaign that saw Yanga winning back to back Kagame Cup silverware. They beat Azam FC 2-0 in the final. Yanga Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet repeatedly praised the young striker as brilliant, committed and for having an eye for goal.

“Bahanuzi is a very athletic player, he is aggressive and can drag defenders from outside the 18 yards and he works really well for the team,” said Saintfiet. Idd was also outstanding at the just ended regional club championships. He was brilliant and provided a perfect shield to Yanga’s back four.

His vision and passing was clever as he kept everything simple to move his team from rear to the final third and definitely there was no way coach Poulsen could overlook him again. The midfielder was reduced to an outcast figure after falling out with the former Taifa Stars coach Brazilian Marcio Maximo, allegedly for indiscipline grounds. He could also not break into the team under another Dane coach Jan Poulsen.

According to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Information Officer, Boniface Wambura, Stars will move into camp on August 8, ready for the game against an opponent to be named later. Training, Wambura said, will kick off the following day. The full squad has: Goalkeepers Deogratias Munishi (Azam), skipper Juma Kaseja (Simba) and Mwadini Ali (Azam).

Defenders: Assistant captain Aggrey Morris (Azam), Erasto Nyoni (Azam), Kelvin Yondani (Yanga) and Shomari Kapombe (Simba). Midfielders: Athuman Idd (Yanga), Frank Domayo (Yanga), Haruna Moshi (Simba), Mrisho Ngassa (Azam), Mwinyi Kazimoto (Simba), Ramadhan Chombo (Azam), Ramadhan Singano (Simba), Salum Abubakar (Azam) and Shabani Nditi (Mtibwa Sugar).

Strikers: John Bocco (Azam), Mbwana Samata (TP Mazembe, the Democratic Republic of Congo- DRC), Said Bahanuzi (Yanga), Simon Msuva (Yanga) and Thomas Ulimwengu (TP Mazembe - DRC).