{UAH} Tanzania: No to Bogus Nigerian Team
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Tanzania: No to Bogus Nigerian Team
19 JULY 2013THE Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has warned regional football associations against hosting friendly matches between local clubs and foreign teams whose visit has not been endorsed by their respective national football governing bodies.
It follows TFF's decision to cancel a friendly match between Mainland Premier League champions, Young Africans and visiting FC 3 Pillars from Nigeria, which was to take place yesterday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
TFF Secretary General Angetile Osiah revealed that they called off the so planed pre-season encounter after communicating with their Nigerian counterparts, the NFF, who, surprisingly, denied any knowledge of FC 3Pillars' presence in Tanzania.
"Yesterday (Wednesday) we communicated with the Nigerian Football Federation regarding 3 Pillars and we realised that the NFF had not sanctioned their tour of the country. Based on the NFF's declaration, we annulled the game because FIFA regulations do not allow teams to play outside their country without obtaining permission from their national associations," Osiah explained.
He said they also learnt that 3Pillars have not been promoted to the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), which is contrary to the announcement made by organisers of the cancelled friendly match, SportLink International.
The TFF boss further said SportLink International were not registered by football's world governing body, FIFA, to organise international friendly matches. Osiah warned regional football bodies not to get tricked by unscrupulous people who often bring in teams from outside the country with a view to organise friendlies with local teams without observing procedures.
When reached for comments, Yanga spokesperson Baraka Kizuguto confirmed that the match had been abandoned but stopped short of going into details. Yanga confirmed earlier this week that they would play an international build-up against visiting FC 3Pillars from Nigeria at the 60,000-seater National Stadium.
The club's Secretary General Lawrence Mwalusako was quoted as saying they had actually agreed to play against the Nigerians on the grounds, among others, to gauge the performance of the newly registered players ahead of next month's Premier League kickoff.
Apart from Yanga, FC 3Pillars were lined up to play more friendly matches against Coastal Union of Tanga and newly-promoted Mbeya City. The matches' coordinator, Salum Mkemi, claimed that the Nigerian team landed since last week as they look forward to
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