Stars coach hails charges despite sad exit
TAIFA Stars caretaker Honour Janza said failure to utilise well scoring opportunities they created against Uganda contributed to the defeat, but has congratulated his charges for fighting spirit.
The country’s envoys missed out an opportunity to qualify for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals after conceding an aggregate 4-0 loss to Uganda.
They went down 3-0 in the reverse leg match at St Mary’s Stadium in Uganda over the weekend, a week after succumbing to a 1-0 loss at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the city.
“We came not to get these results but we came to also get our victory but things did not go as planned especially in the first half.
“Sometimes it happens that you do not anticipate certain decisions but we have to accept because it is football…I think it was very difficult to come back but we were able to stabilise later into the game.
“In the second half, we tried to look for an equaliser but it could not come our way. We created many scoring chances but could not make the best of them while our colleagues utilised well theirs and this is what made the difference between us and them,” said Jonza.
In the same token, Taifa Stars player Feisal Salum apologised to the Tanzanians for the loss saying they have let them down, but next time, things will go their way.
“We were privileged to fly high the national flag but we have let you down. Let me take this chance to apologise and assure Tanzanians that we will come back stronger in near future,” he wrote on his instagram page.
He further urged the football family in the country not to stop supporting their national team saying failure to qualify for the 2023 CHAN finals is not the end but rather the beginning of good things.
On his part, Uganda coach Milutin Sredojovic ‘Micho’ was full of praise to his players for the good job while insisting that they will thoroughly prepare for the upcoming finals in order to do well.
The 2023 CHAN finals are scheduled in January in Algeria where qualified teams will battle for the championship whose current custodian is Morocco.
So far, only Morocco and DR Congo are the most successful teams in CHAN contest as they have clinched it twice as such, if Morocco succeed to defend it, then they will stamp a record of lifting the silverware for the third time.
