Dar Es Salaam — THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is optimistic that Mainland national soccer team, Kilimanjaro Stars, will produce best results in the forthcoming CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, set to get underway in Kenya from next Saturday.

Kilimanjaro Stars will kick off its campaign against the defending champions Uganda, on day two of the regional championship in Mumias town, where the group C will be residing.

The Mainlanders, two-time champions of the regional championship, have struggled to impress since 1994, when they beat Kenya 4-2 in post match penalty shootout to lift the trophy.

But TFF General Secretary, Fredrick Mwakalebela, is convinced that the team has stepped up good preparation, ahead of this year's meet including a training tour in Egypt and Yemen.

"Last year we ended up as third winners, this time we're determined to do even better. We're well prepared and we are determined that the squad we have is capable of winning. What we need is support from Tanzanians," Mwakalebela told the 'Sunday News' today.

Most players in Kilimanjaro Stars and Zanzibar Heroes squads formed the national team, Taifa Stars, that lost 5-1 against African Champions Egypt. The team also drew 1-1 and lost 2-1 to Yemen in two friendly matches between them.

The results caused concern among soccer fans in the country and some have shown little faith on Kilimanjaro Stars' ability, to end a fifteen-year wait for Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup silverware.

However, Mwakalebela said Tanzanians should not be worried by Stars' poor run of shows, during their international friendly matches.

"The tour was good experience for our team. It helped the coach (Marcio Maximo) to spot weakness in the team and work on correcting them before the start of Challenge Cup. I can assure you that the team is very strong.

"I talked to Maximo yesterday and he is pleased with the way players have been performing during training sessions. So far the entire training is successful."

Mwakalebela said they will make sure the Kilimanjaro Stars get off to Kenya earlier, "possibly on Thursday."

Kilimanjaro Stars players rested this morning, as they had to attend the World Cup trophy exhibition at the National Stadium. The players led by coach Maximo had the opportunity to take photos with the trophy.

The team was expected to resume training later in the evening. The mainland team is in group C alongside Uganda, Zanzibar and Burundi in the Challenge Cup. They will play their second match against Zanzibar Heroes on December 1, before winding up preliminary rounds against Burundi three days later.