The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Majuto Omary
9 May 2008
Ilala MP Mussa Azzan "Zungu" has called for more financial support for the national soccer team, Taifa Stars.
Azzan made the remarks during a dinner hosted for the team dinner in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday evening.
He said corporate sponsorship extended to the team was not enough to cater for the squad's needs.
The legislator said he would initiate a move during the next parliamentary session for more financial support to boost soccer development in the country.
The dinner was organised in the team's honour after winning their first leg match of the newly introduced African Nations Cup qualifiers for domestic-based players against Uganda in Mwanza last week.
Azzan said if more money would be injected into the team, performance would be change for the better as players would be inspired to win.
Serengeti Breweries board chairman Mark Bomani the firm would maintain its sponsorship of the team.
"We have been impressed by the team's performance during their previous two matches against Kenya and Uganda," he said.
The dinner was also attended by, among others, the Minister for Information, Culture and Sports, George Mkuchika, who also commended Stars for their 2-0 win over Uganda.
Mkuchika said fans should give Stars head coach Marcio Maximo more time to shape up the team.
Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Leodegar Tenga requested the players to increase efforts that would match with the support extended to them.
Some of the Stars players who were given audience during the dinner included skipper Henry Joseph, Mrisho Ngasa and Emmanuel Gabriel who all promised to work hard to achieve sound results while appreciating the brewers' sponsorship.
Stars are expected to play their return leg match against Uganda next week at Kampala's Nelson Mandela Stadium
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