Were out to revenge, Tanzanias Bocco warns Kenya ahead of Stars clash

Taifa Stars captain for African Nations Championship (CHAN) John Raphael Bocco has stressed Sunday’s qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Stars is a must win, terming the match as a “special national and team duty.”

Bocco, who saw Kenya overcome Tanzania 3-2 in the just concluded African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in a closely contested derby, believes the only way to seal a second round qualification berth is by convincingly beating the Sebastien Migne coached side at home.

In his words, the second leg should be rendered insignificant for Kenya, if their hope of gracing CHAN 2019 is realistic.

“I want Tanzanians to forget the result we registered against Kenya in Egypt, and fully focus in tomorrow’s match. We have prepared well and we have the quality to stop Kenya. It is a home and away affair and we must get the best at home. We know fans need this win, and I promise them, the nation and the team, we will fight for it,” averred Bocco in Saturday’s midmorning prematch conference at the local federation headquarters in Ilara, Dar es Salaam.

According to the Simba SC attacker, change of guard in the technical bench after the sorry 2019 AFCON outing has not affected the team in terms of continuity, with most of the players who featured for Taifa Stars in the biggest continental showpiece  still available for the second tier version, CHAN

“Coach Ettiene (Ndayigajire) has been inspirational and he has brought the sense of self believe to the team. I can report very positive progress since his coming with the rest of the technical join, which should count in the Sunday clash,” added Bocco.

Dar or Nairobi

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group C - Senegal v Tanzania - 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 23, 2019 Tanzania's Himid Mao, David Mwantika, Mudathiri Yahya and team mates look dejected after Senegal's Krepin Diatta scores their second goal REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Soccer Football – Africa Cup of Nations 2019 – Group C – Senegal v Tanzania – 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt – June 23, 2019 Tanzania’s Himid Mao, David Mwantika, Mudathiri Yahya and team mates look dejected after Senegal’s Krepin Diatta scores their second goal REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

On his side, Ndayigajire preferred to conceal his two-leg strategy, saying his men can make it to the second and final qualification round either through Dar es Salaam exploits or an upset in Nairobi.

“We have done a lot of work to psychologically prepare players for this match, and they appreciate the importance of this competition. Being a qualification process of two matches, home and away, we can seal it either here (Dar es Salaam) or away. The important thing is qualifying, not where or how we do ,” said the former Rwanda and Comoros coach.

The match will be staged at the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam from 4:00pm, with the return fixture set for August 4, 2019 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi.

The winner will face off with Sudan, in the last qualifier handle with the aggregate winner qualifying for the CHAN 2020 fiesta.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will have a feel if the National Stadium, pitch in Temeke later today (Saturday) at 4:00pm.

Harambee Stars head coach Migne is expected to address journalists during the training, compensating for the skipped conference in the morning.

Tags:

kenya Tanzania Harambee Stars REVENGE CHAN Captain John Bocco

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