TANZANIA SET FOR AFRICAN TOURNEY

Copa Coca-Cola stars have set their sights on retaining the African Continental championship slated for June 2 this year in South Africa. Tanzania are the defending champions of the continental event that brilliant youngsters won in Brazil last year. Assistant youth team coach Sylvester Marsh, said given the team's strength they would defend the title. "We have very good players and I believe they can win us more plaudits,"said Marsh. Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) official Ramadhan Nassib said they had picked a provisional squad of 22 players that will start residential training tomorrow. Nassib said team coach Rodrigo Spackler would make the final selection of 16 players in ten days time. "We have a crop of talented players�they will do great things if they grow under appropriate technical bench,"he said. "The federation expects the youngsters will outdo their opponents and clinch the trophy,"the TFF official added. However, Nassib said they were not aware of other countries, which would participate in the looming championship. The players in the provisional squad include Kabari Swaleh, Saleh Ally, Malima John, Makalani Makalani and Badri Seif. Others are Dotto Greyson, Kulwa Greyson, Jacob Gosi, Sadiki Gawaza, Johanes Kajuna, Juhudi Kibanda, Adili Sambilo, Himid Mao, Faraji Hamada, Kenny Mwambungu and John Kyanturu. Also in the list are Joseph Mahundi, Karim Suleiman, Lambele Ruben, Murshid Rashid, Mohammed Marzuku and Zahoro Ismael. The team will camp at TFF hostels under Spackler and Marsh. Besides competing, the players would attend soccer clinics at the University of Pretoria High Performance Centre.