Dar Es Salaam — AFTER a lot of public pressure, the national soccer team Taifa Stars coach, has finally dropped the off-form goalkeepers Shabaan Dihile and Ali Mustafa for the Senior Challenge Cup which kicks off in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi and Mumias town this weekend.

Their slots have been covered by Mwarami Mohamed and Shabaan Kado, as the Brazilian coach Marcio Maximo named a 20-man strong squad for the regional tournament today.

Dihile's form has been a major public concern, while Mustafa has failed to recover from malaria in time for the two-week competition.

Veteran Mohamed features for Mozambique's Ferroviario Maputo, while the young stopper Kado plays for Mtibwa Sugar.

Maximo said Mwarami, who trained with the team for first time this morning has impressed him so far.

Industrious midfielder Henry Joseph of Norway's Kongsvinger FC has also been included in the list. He was expected to arrive later today to join other members of the team which flies out tomorrow to Nairobi.

Explaining Joseph's inclusion, Maximo said: "He's a professional footballer and can adopt quickly - of course the tournament will attract many professionals."

Canada's Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder, Nizar Khalfan, is the notable absence in the squad and there was no place for Aggrey Morris, Mbwana Samatta, Rashid Gumbo and Said Ahmed, who were among the players called up to join Taifa Stars squad for friendlies against Egypt and Yemen early this month.

Giving his general overview on the tournament, Maximo said it was a tough event which the Mainland team has failed to win since 1994.

Kilimanjaro Stars are in group C alongside the defending champions Uganda, Zanzibar Heroes and the unpredictable Burundi.

Maximo said the group is tricky, but was confident that his players have prepared well for the battle.

"Our opponents are good but we've prepared well and we going there to compete not as mere participants," he said.

Handing over the national flag to the team, Deputy Minister for Defence and National Service, John Nchimbi, said the government believes in the ability of the Brazilian coach and challenged the players to fight for their country and return home with the trophy.

Kilimanjaro Stars will kick off the campaign against Uganda on the second day of the competition in Mumias town, where the group C matches would be played.

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.

Full squad: Mwarami Mohamed (Ferroviario Maputo), Shabaan Kado (Mtibwa), Erasto Nyoni, Ibrahim Mwaipopo, Salum Swedi (Azam FC), David Naftari, Juma Jabu, Juma Nyosso and Kelvin Yondan (Simba), Shadrack Nsajigwa, Nurdin Bakari and Kigi Makasi (Yanga).

Others are Shaaban Nditi (Mtibwa), Mwinyi Kazimoto (JKT Ruvu), Henry Joseph (Kongsvinger FC-Norway), Mrisho Ngasa, Jerson Tegete (Yanga), Mussa Hassan Mgosi, Danny Mrwanda (Simba) and John Bocco (Azam FC).