The Tanzania Sisi Nyumbani (TSN) Executive Director, Farough Baghozah, whose company has organized the trip said yesterday that the president was happy about the game and promised that he would be at the stadium to watch the historic friendly.
"We are happy to have the Real Madrid greats come to Tanzania and play a selected side. That is promoting Tanzania in a good way and good for the country and fans.
“The president will be at the stadium tomorrow. Later today (yesterday) he was going to have dinner with the squad at State House,” he said.
Luis Figo who was FIFA Player of the Year in 2000, urged local fans to turn out at the stadium in big numbers to witness how soccer is played.
“We are happy to be here in Tanzania, we have prepared enough to face the local side.“FIFA have confirmed to us that they are happy with our tour in Tanzania and will make history in Tanzanian football,” said Figo.
He said their decision to come to Tanzania was mostly fuelled by the fact that Tanzania has so many football lovers and tourism attraction sites.
Former Real Madrid player Christian Karembeu said he would throw the ball to Figo to make easier to him to score.
He said this would be an opportunity for the local soccer fans to watch Real Madrid playing on their soil and perhaps also help to motivate aspiring football players.
Tanzania side assisting coach Jamhuri Kihwelu, said that all players are in upbeat mood ahead of the game against former Madrid stars.
Jamal Malinzi, the president of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) said that playing against Real Madrid would test the veteran Tanzania side against world renowned veterans. “There is also hope that this will open doors for talent hunters in Spain to look at upcoming youths in Tanzania,” Malinzi said.
The tourism industry is of course expected to benefit from the legends’ visit. This visit will go a long way in supplementing Tanzania’s efforts in promoting the country as a tourist destination. Famous names always provide good PR opportunities, the TFF chief noted.
The visit will be reported and aired on several international media channels so Tanzania will get quite a lot of publicity.
Dennis Ssebo, a coordinator of the event said that the group of players who are already in Tanzania are Luis Figo, Christian Karembeu, Fernando Sanz Duran and Michael Garcia while a group of other players with team officials were expected to arrive late yesterday.
The team is expected to visit various safari sites like the Ngorongoro Crater, climb Mount kilimanjaro and sight see other places.
It is Tanzania that seems to be the place to visit this year if you are famous and looking to enjoy an African safari, after billionaire Warren Buffet’s visit which was a major facelift for tourism in Tanzania.
Football legends Luis Figo, Michael Owen, Fernando Morientes, Fabio Cannavaro, Fernando Hierro, Reuben de la Red, Christian Karembeu, Michel Salgado, Steve McManaman, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jose Maria Gutierrez Hernandez ‘Guti’, Fernando Redondo, Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Carlos are expected to feature in the squad.
Tanzania Stars are goalie Mohamed Mwameja and Peter Manyika, defenders Shadrack Nsajigwa, Mecky Mexime, Boniface Pawasa, John Mwansasu, Abubakar Kombo, George Masatu, Habib Kondo.
Midfielders are Athumani China, Shaaban Ramadhani, Salvatory Edward, Sabri Ramadhani, Yussuf Macho, Abdul Mashine, Abdul Maneno, Mao Mkami, Steven Nyenge, Madaraka Suleiman, Akida Makunda and Mtwa Kihwelu.
Strikers are Monja Liseki, Iddi Moshi, Dua Said, Emmanuel Gabriel, Said Maulid, Thomas Kipese, Nassor Mwinyi, Edibily Lunyamila, Mohamed Hussein and Clement Kahabuka.
The technical bench is under Charles Boniface Mkwasa, assisted by Freddy Felix ‘Minziro’ and Jamhuri Kihwelu and team doctor Mwanandi Mwankemwa.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN