Makalla - Taifa Stars Has Players From Zanzibar

Dodoma
THE national soccer team (Taifa Stars) has five
players from Zanzibar who play for Mainland
clubs Azam, Young Africans and Simba.
Zanzibar players in Taifa Stars include
Mwadini Ali, Aggrey Morris, Nadir Haroub and
Said Nassoro 'Cholo'.
Responding to a basic question from Amina
Amour (Special Seats - CCM), the deputy
minister for Information, Youth, Culture and
Sports, Amos Makalla, said the national team
does not have players from Zanzibar clubs.
Amour wanted to know why a foreign coach,
who is employed by the Tanzania Football
Federation (TFF) or the government, trains
both Taifa Stars and Kilimanjaro Stars. She
also sought to know how many Zanzibar
soccer players from Zanzibar clubs play in the
national team.
Makalla said that selection of the national
team is done by the head coach who looks at
specific qualities. "The national team head
coach selects players on merit, basing on
qualities a player has to meet to join the
national team," he said.
"According to the agreement, foreign coaches
employed by TFF, train both Taifa Stars and
the Mainland team Kilimanjaro Stars," he
added. "This is due to the fact that foreign
coaches are employees of TFF, which also
manages Kilimanjaro Stars. Makalla said that
suggestions presented by the legislator to
separate responsibilities of the coach, will be
considered.
Responding to a supplementary question from
Rita Kabati (Special Seats - CCM), who wanted
the government to employ a foreign coach for
Twiga Stars, Makalla said the government will
do its best to find one. "We will take all
issues, including Taifa Stars camping in
Zanzibar, and work on them," he explained.