Stars target ‘Pharaohs' revenge
From AMIR MHANDO in Cairo, 3rd January 2011 @ 12:00, Total Comments: 0, Hits: 179
THE national soccer team ‘Taifa Stars' manager expects nothing but a revenge when his team face hosts Egypt in the opening match of the maiden Nile Basin countries football tournament that opens here on Wednesday.
Leopold ‘Tasso' Mukebezi said Stars are well prepared to challenge in the tournament, saying the target is to win all matches. "It was a pity that Stars lost heavily -- 5-1 in their last outing against the ‘Pharaohs' almost a year ago, but this time around we won't let that happen to us again," said Mukebezi.
Like Assistant Coach Sylvester Marsh, Mukebezi is confident that the Stars will be buoyed by drills that the players went through as well as the recent success of the Mainland side ‘Kilimanjaro Stars' in the Cecafa Challenge Cup to perform wonders in Egypt.
Stars first choice goalie Juma Kaseja also spoke of the players' determination to perform wonders in the tournament, saying the preparations they made will definitely help them to perform well in the inaugural championships.
The 12- day event will bring together seven teams from hosts Egypt, Sudan, Burundi Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, while Rwanda and Ethiopia are the only Basin countries that apologised for non-participation.
Already, the tournament has become the talk of the city ahead as local media reports seems to give much focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan as the toughest opponents against their national side-‘Pharaohs.'
Taifa Stars, Burundi and Kenya are considered as light weight, as Uganda Cranes are slightly ranked above the other three East African nations. The match to pit Stars and Egypt will take place at Cairo Stadium. Stars arrived here on Monday ready for the tournament.
Stars will have to overcome Egypt, Burundi and Uganda cranes in Group A, to guarantee a chance of making the semi-finals of the all-expense paid tournament. Latest entrants DR Congo, Kenya and Sudan make up Group B.
Meanwhile, the president of Egyptian Council of Sports Hassan Saqr announced to the media on Monday that the Sports minister will meet on Tuesday with the ministries of sports of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Sudan.
Saqr said the meeting with the four counterparts is part of the officials' visit to Egypt to attend the opening of the Nile Basin countries football tournament. He confirmed the depth of relations between Egypt and Nile Basin countries.