Leodeger Tenga made a call for joint efforts into establishment of development programmes

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president Leodeger Tenga made a call for joint efforts into establishment of development programmes to promote grassroots soccer.

The TFF boss urged corporate world to join forces into the new campaign that would make a foundation for talent scouting and development.

Tenga said teen soccer would be the only solution to boost the game’s standard and excel at international platform.

The TFF president was speaking to reporters during a routine weekly conference at the body’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Taifa Stars, as the name for the national team is known, are now trailing Cote d’Ivoire in the race towards winning the World Cup berth for the 2014 championship in Brazil.

In an effort to intensify the campaign, TFF has already tasked the new Taifa Stars coach Kim Poulsen to assist in looking for a youth coach in Denmark.

Poulsen was promoted to the senior national team after serving as youth development coach for close to a year.

Tenga was as excited as he poured lots of praise to the Taifa Stars team with an average age of 23 years.

The team defied the odds as they fought from a goal behind to cruise into two goals victory over visiting Gambia last Sunday in Dar es Salaam.

He indicated that it’s now time for the nation to build up a perpetual team from young players who will compete with the best.

“I admit the hard work is yet to come, but to be honest I have seen our young players battling it out throughout the regulation 90 minutes,” he said.

He thanked players and the coach for determination and discipline in keeping fans happy while he reiterated more support from the corporate sponsors to support grassroots promotion efforts.

The new proposed program is expected to attract talented kids from all over the country as the spirit of belief and confidence will be inflicted to them on professional level, including on how to face and respond to the press.

“This must be a continuous program as we look for support from all stakeholders, especially the corporate sponsors with whom we can speed up the process,” he said.