Tanzania
head coach Kim Poulsen was proud of the fighting spirit Taifa Stars
displayed against Gambia on Sunday and backed his youthful looking squad
to keep on improving.The Tanzanian outfit, nicknamed the Taifa Stars,
recovered from a goal down to win 2-1 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
qualifier at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
“I
think the boys were in high spirits and that was great”, the Danish
tactician said after the match adding, “I have pushed these players so
hard in training. I have always been telling them that the reason why I
shout at you is that I have planted the seeds and I want them to grow
faster…these are the results.”
Momodou
Ceesay gave Gambia the lead in the first half, but the hosts bounced
back in the second half as goals from defenders Shomari Kapombe and
Erasto Nyoni earned Poulsen his first win in charge of the Stars.
“I
told the players at halftime to continue pushing harder and make tire
the opponents and force them into make mistakes and that's what they
did.”
The
Taifa Stars of Tanzania welcomed ‘The Scorpions’, having lost their
first World Cup qualifier 2-0 to favourites Ivory Coast and the Dane was
pleased to see his team bounce back with a well deserved victory
against the Gambians.
“It
is a good journey now, we have played two games, we are number two in
the group and we will be stronger and stronger, it was good for the boys
because they deserved victory. This victory will push them to achieve
even more, we have sent a signal to each other that we are on right
track, we are moving on this journey for the new era and towards great
heights.” Said Polsen
For
his part, Gambia’s head coach, Luciano Mancini said: “The Tanzanian
team played very well…they have players small in physical stature and
able to play some fast combinations while moving swiftly with the
ball.” Mancini, whose side drew 1-1 with Morocco in the match-day one,
remained optimistic that his team will bounce back in their next game.
The
match-day two results means that Tanzania climbed to second position on
three points, while Gambia dropped bottom of the group. Ivory Coast
remain on top of the group with four points and Morocco are on third
with two points. The two played out a 2-2 draw last Saturday.
0 comments