TAIFA Stars Coach, Hemed Suleiman, has expressed confidence in his young squad, emphasising that there is ample room for growth following a goalless draw against Ethiopia.
Taifa Stars were held to a goalless draw by Ethiopia in their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, Group H, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at the post-match press conference at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Suleiman highlighted that the team, which features a mix of young talents, is still in the process of developing cohesion and seizing opportunities.
“As we progress, I am confident that we will see improvements,” Suleiman said.
“I urge all fans to remain patient.
Our young players have great potential and will soon demonstrate their abilities,” he said.
Suleiman expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, noting that while there are areas for improvement, he is encouraged by the effort shown.
“I am pleased and very happy with how my players performed,” he remarked.
“I have identified areas where we need to improve and I’m hopeful that we will come back stronger in our next match,” he noted.
Ethiopia’s coach, Gebremdhin Haile, commended his team’s performance and securing a draw in an away venue.
“We faced a tough opponent, but I am pleased with our display, especially in the first half.
However, we did identify weaknesses in our attacking line, and we will work on those before our next matches,” the Walia coach re marked.
Haile noted that his team lacked a winning mentality and struggled in the attack, areas he intends to address.
He also commended Taifa Stars for their defensive resilience.
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Culture, Arts, and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, reflected positively on Tanzania’s performance despite the draw.
“We did not expect this result, but we have more chances to prove ourselves. It’s time for us to prepare for our next encounter against Guinea,” Msigwa said.
With the draw behind them, Taifa Stars will now set their sights on their upcoming match against Guinea.
