AFRICAN SUPER STAR

New growth plan signals bright future for Tanzanian football

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Monday, 15 April 2013 10:58

Tanzania's youth team coaches Danish Jacob Michelsen and Jamhuri Kihwelo talk to players By Suleiman Jongo The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s continued steady rise in the Fifa world ranking is a clear indication that the Tanzanian football is in the right direction. The rise was due to Taifa Stars’ 3-1 triumph over Morocco in the 2014’s Fifa World Cup Qualifiers.The dramatic win moved Taifa Stars, or Tanzania to the 116th from the 119th spot it was holding last month. This is an 11-position rise within two months. Tanzania’s highest ranking was 65th in 1965 but it dropped in the following years and struggled to come back. The fast uprising of the Tanzanian football suggests that there is a bright future for the local football as far as the recent inaugurated 2013-2016 Technical Plan is concern should it not end on papers. Angetile Osiah,who is the secretary general of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) believes that the plan, which was made available to some football stakeholders will work out should all concerned parties play their role with determination. He says the reason for the fall of many sporting events was due to failure to have long-term development plans implemented to attract sponsorship. He says it was the reason why TFF had decided to sell the idea to the football stakeholders who will take the most loved sport to the high level of development. However, he says that TFF has not fixed a specific budget for the implementation of the project. He insists that TFF, despite coming up with the idea, it will not be able to finance all as the mother body but all affiliate associations will as well have to look for their own financial supporters in their respective areas. “The whole budget of the project will depend on proposals to be made by our involved parties (regional associations/stakeholders) in the project. “For example, when it comes to organising a junior tournament in a certain region, the officials will make a budget and look for sponsors in compliance with the plan”, says Osiah. He says it’s the right of football stakeholders to be fully involved. “There are, for-example, certain political profiles/firms/companies who sponsor football events, so it’s the right time to have them fully involved ”, he says. He says this week, there will be a-three or four-day meeting of a committee that will look at how best responsible parties can to implement it However, some local football fans, have welcomedBut they have questioned its implementation. “The plan, though I have not read it, looks good since it deals with promotion of football at the grassroots, but will they take the sport in upcountry regions to a higher height”, asks Ally Sadiki. “Football is mainly promoted to some regions , mainly in Dar es Salaam, but others have to wait until Taifa Cup comes”, said another fan, George Joseph. But he believes that it will help in promoting football standards as it was the case for other African countries like Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, which were at forefront in promoting young footballers. Tenga, says through the process of the plan, a wide range of views emerged and an abundance of tasks their key stakeholders would TFF to undertake was collected. He says implementation of this plan will, in my opinion, provide Tanzanians at district, regional, and national levels with an opportunity to take part, advance and develop within the game of football. Osiah says that the plan will provide a roadmap and lifelong experience to all who participate. He hopes that the Government, business community, media and the public will embrace it and extend their complete and unreserved support, as we embark on building better Tanzanian football. Leodeger Tenga, who is the TFF’s president, says that their mission to launch the long-term technical development plan is to develop top level football players and clubs by spotting youngsters with the most potential and providing them with best attention and facilities in terms of human, financial and material resources to help them excel. Tenga, a former national team player says that by having conducive football environment; the game of football will be enjoyed by all since TFF’s business is football. He believes that the plan is the best ever and never seen before in Tanzanian football, involving several stakeholders in its implementation. Henry Tandau, one of the plan’s facilitators says that the plan will go a long way in bringing change in the way football is managed and developed in our country. Sunday Kayuni, who is the technical director says that young players are not adults as such intensity and content of training should be tailored according to the developmental age of the player. Scientific research has concluded that it takes eight to twelve years of training for a player/athlete to reach elite levels. This is called the ten year rule or 10,000 hour rule, which translates into slightly more than three hours practice daily for ten years. A specific and well-planned practice, training, competition and recovery regime will ensure optimum development throughout a Player/athlete’s career. He adds there is no shortcut to success in athletic preparation. Rushing competition will always result in shortcomings in physical, technical, tactical, mental, personal and lifestyle capacities”. He said the coaching and training structure and content will, with the help of Fifa and CAF, be re-designed . The Plan sets out the Tanzanian framework for coaching and player development from 2013- 2016 and includes complimentary actions in refereeing, medical practice, administration and training facility development. Nine key objectives are outlined and the plan seeks to: 1. Define a clear philosophy and realistic roadmap for the development of Tanzanian players 2. Increase the quality and quantity of coaches, referees, medical practitioners and administrators through an extensive programme of education, support and resources at district, regional and national level 3. Increase participation at grassroots 4. Provide a clear development structure for emerging talent 5. Create structured links between youth football, the emerging talent programme and professional football in Tanzania, East Africa, Africa and the world Enhance the standards of the Premier, First Division, Regional and District leagues against Top African benchmarks 7. Achieve and sustain international success 8. Provide guidelines and a framework for the development of quality training facilities at club, district, regional and national Level 9. Put in place a structure to implement the Technical Development Plan linking club/school, district, regional, national and international aspects of the game The plan sets out goals and activities, which will drive the achievement of the above objectives. In addition, a full re-organisation of the Technical Department of the TFF is proposed. The resources required to implement the plan will be sought from within the game; commercial and corporate revenue, sponsorship and the Tanzanian government. Implementation of the plan will be spearheaded by the TFF’s Technical Department with quarterly and annual evaluation reports produced for the Executive Committee and regular updates to relevant key committees The implementation of the plan,will target among areas, increasing of grassroots participation, increase participation through quality grassroots (Chandimu) programmes relating to children, clubs, community and schools and women football. According to the plan, which was made availed to The Citizen, other key areas include referees, administrators, parents as well as putting in place a national academy structure that provides training, education, competition and advice to emerging high performing players prior to and during early stages of their professional career. Also to optimise the choices of players so that they can pursue the most appropriate playing opportunities for themselves in the District, Regional, First Division, Premier League, East Africa and Abroad as assist lower to top level clubs to adopt and implement the FIFA and CAF club licence Technical guidelines Since the Tanzania premier league clubs have been a mere participants in CAF club tournaments, the plan also aimed at improving the competitiveness of Premier League Clubs in African Competitions as well as improving standings in CAF and Fifa ranking as it was the case for Taifa Stars. The plan drawers believe that players at all categories need opportunities to realize their potential. Todate Tanzanian players are not provided with adequate opportunities to attain a level of preparation, training, competition and appropriate lifestyle to challenge and motivate them to further career advancement. More attention should be devoted to the technical, tactical and physical development of players. Younger players should be afforded with the opportunity to develop their skills and decision making in practice and competition