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Veterans extol Taifa Stars rise

Taifa Stars

FOOTBALL veterans and coaches have applauded Tanzania’s national team – Taifa Stars, following their recent FIFA ranking surge.

The team has ascended five places to 114th globally, amassing 1,175 points, up from 1,160 points in April, an increase of 15 points as per FIFA’s latest rankings.

The upward route began in July last year when Taifa Stars stood 124th with 1,139 points.

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Since then, consistent improvements have been noted, reaching 122nd in September, and 121st in subsequent months leading up to last December’s African Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.

The team continued its ascent to 119th in February and maintained that position until April, before their recent climb to 114th.

Speaking with the ‘Sunday News’ reporter, former Taifa Stars Coach, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, praised the team for the progress, but emphasised the need for continuous improvement in every FIFA-sanctioned match.

“The team must maintain its current position and strive to move forward to ensure our football reaches greater heights,” he explained.

Adding to the discussion, former Young Africans and national team player, Bakari Malima, expressed a desire for a strengthened domestic league to bolster the performance of players selected for the national team.

“Foreign players competing in our league have raised the competitive bar for Tanzanian players,” he noted, advocating for a structured approach to harnessing talents, both locally and internationally.

Dua Said, a former Simba and national team player, echoed similar sentiments, urging authorities to place trust in local coaches.

“Believing in our own can lead to significant achievements and enhance our country’s reputation,” he asserted. However, as it stands this is Tanzania’s best ranking since 2015 when the team was placed 132nd.

In 2015, Tanzania experienced a drop from 105th place in 2014 to 132nd place, indicating a decrease of 27 places. Tanzania’s best historical ranking was 65th in 1995, a position that the team still aspires to achieve again.

Furthermore, as Taifa Stars continue to climb the ranks, the consensus among football stakeholders underscores the importance of nurturing local coaching talent and fostering a robust domestic league for sustained success on the global stage.

The team has ascended five places to 114th globally, amassing 1,175 points, up from 1,160 points in April, an increase of 15 points as per FIFA’s latest rankings.

Also read: https://dailynews.co.tz/fifa-ranks-stars-climb-7-places/#google_vignette

The upward route began in July last year when Taifa Stars stood 124th with 1,139 points. Since then, consistent improvements have been noted, reaching 122nd in September, and 121st in subsequent months leading up to last December’s African Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast.

The team continued its ascent to 119th in February and maintained that position until April, before their recent climb to 114th. Speaking with the ‘Sunday News’ reporter, former Taifa Stars Coach, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, praised the team for the progress, but emphasised the need for continuous improvement in every FIFA-sanctioned match.

“The team must maintain its current position and strive to move forward to ensure our football reaches greater heights,” he explained.

Adding to the discussion, former Young Africans and national team player, Bakari Malima, expressed a desire for a strengthened domestic league to bolster the performance of players selected for the national team.

“Foreign players competing in our league have raised the competitive bar for Tanzanian players,” he noted, advocating for a structured approach to harnessing talents, both locally and internationally.

Dua Said, a former Simba and national team player, echoed similar sentiments, urging authorities to place trust in local coaches.

“Believing in our own can lead to significant achievements and enhance our country’s reputation,” he asserted. However, as it stands this is Tanzania’s best ranking since 2015 when the team was placed 132nd.

In 2015, Tanzania experienced a drop from 105th place in 2014 to 132nd place, indicating a decrease of 27 places. Tanzania’s best historical ranking was 65th in 1995, a position that the team still aspires to achieve again.

Furthermore, as Taifa Stars continue to climb the ranks, the consensus among football stakeholders underscores the importance of nurturing local coaching talent and fostering a robust domestic league for sustained success on the global stage.