Tanzania shopping for opponent after FKF withdraw Harambee Starlets from friendly

© FKF

FOOTBALL Tanzania shopping for opponent after FKF withdraw Harambee Starlets from friendly

Festus Chuma 10:45 - 06.04.2023

TFF had made some headway in finding replacement opponents but could not announce anything yet.

Harambee Starlets' international friendly against Tanzania on Sunday afternoon has been called off.

The two teams were due to play each other in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, but Kenya decided to pull out at the eleventh hour.

The game was set to be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium under the floodlights to prepare Starlets for a trip to Albania, where they were set to play against the south-eastern Europe nation.

However, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)media officer Clifford Ndimbo has confirmed receiving communication from Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on their decision to cancel the international friendly.

"The Taifa Queens queens against Harambee Starlets will not be there as per the request of Kenya," said Ndimbo in an interview with Pulse Sports, 

The Harambee Stars squad was scheduled to leave for Tanzania on Thursday in what would have been Godfrey 'Solo' Oduor's first match in charge of the senior national team.

However, this will be different. Starlets will have to wait a little longer to return for their first international engagement over a year after the FKF's suspension by the World Football governing body FIFA.

Tanzania women's national team head coach Bakari Shime had already called 30 players who had entered camp on Sunday, April 2, to prepare for the match.

Out of 23 local-based players named by coach Dime in his provisional squad, 15 had already reported to camp on Sunday, while the foreign-based players were set to arrive in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday.

Starlets were also set to play Albania in another friendly on April 11, but the match was canceled on Tuesday, with FKF citing logistical reasons.

"This painful decision has been arrived at due to logistical challenges that have made it impossible to travel and arrive in Albania on or before April 11, 2023, despite concerted efforts by all concerned," said FKF CEO Barry Otieno in a statement.

"Even so, the federation remains committed to the wholesome development of football in Kenya and is actively engaging other countries, with a view of finding a suitable friendly match for the Starlets in the next FIFA window," Otieno added.

However, the Albanian Football Federation had already sent indicators that the friendly would not occur. They posted on their official portal that Kenya had challenges obtaining the required visas to enter the country.

Tags: