BY BEN MEMULETIWON
New Tanzanian coach, Nigerian-born Emmanuel Amuneke has made his first appointment. He named former Flying Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Emeka Amadi, as his assistant, on Tuesday.
Amadi’s appointment came a day after Amuneke was unveiled as the senior coach of the Tanzanian national football team, the Taifa Stars, at a colourful ceremony in Dodoma, the capital.
Amuneke and Amadi had worked together as coaches for the Nigerian Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets and the Under-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, until recently.
The dazzling and rugged striker confirmed his first appointment saying: “We have started work already as we don’t have time on our side. We have an AFCON qualifier against Uganda away from home and we need to start in earnest and that is why I am not going back to Spain for now.”
The former Barcelona winger also disclosed that aside from overseeing the senior team he is also charged with nurturing the Tanzania’s age-group teams.
He said: “We are also in charge of the youth programmes of the country which is an added responsibility.”
According to the new coach, his major task right now is to pick an AFCON ticket and ensure that the Taifa Stars make a laudable mark at the continental championship next year in Cameroon.
“As a coach, you must have a target for yourself without anyone giving you a target,” he said. “The prime target is qualification to the AFCON 2019 and God will see us through.
“I am a positive person, right from my playing days, and I know that with hard work and commitment from the players, we can achieve our aim. I must commend the organisation of the FA of the Tanzania, they are professionals.”
Tanzania were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Lesotho in their opening AFCON qualifier and are drawn in Group L along with group leaders Uganda and Cape Verde.
The top two teams will advance to the expanded AFCON scheduled for Cameroon.