High profile build-up matches lined up for Serengeti Boys

National Under-17 team (Serengeti Boys) coaches must be grinning from ear to ear after the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) disclosed that the team would play several matches against top ranked African teams.

Serengeti Boys, who are already at the camp for the 2017 African Youth Championship (AYC) finals, will play eight build-up matches ahead of the showpiece scheduled to kick off on May 14.

TFF information officer Alfred Lucas told The Citizen that Egypt, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia were among teams Serengeti Boys would take on in preparations for the Gabon tournament.

“If things go as planned, our team will have at least eight friendly matches before the eagerly awaited event starts. It’s our hope that the boys will benefit immensely from playing against some of the best young footballers on the continent,” Lucas said. Serengeti Boys, currently training at the Karume Stadium, will leave for Bukoba on March 26 for three friendly matches.

The boys, who qualified for the finals after Congo-Brazzaville were kicked out for age cheating, will face Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda at the Kaitaba Stadium before flying to Morocco. “The boys will train in Dar es Salaam for the next two weeks. Thereafter, they will go to Bukoba for the aforementioned matches. Our neighbours are as equally strong, so we are looking forward to a valuable experience,” he said.

Lucas added: “The team will pitch a three-week camp in Morocco, where they will play some friendlies before flying to Cameroon for two matches against the hosts.

Meanwhile, head coach Bakari Shime has unveiled a 24-player squad for the finals, which is a blend of regular player and new faces.