Taifa Stars head coach Miguel Gamondi has called for patience from Tanzanians as he works to establish a new playing identity for the national team, saying early signs of progress are beginning to emerge.
Gamondi made the appeal after Taifa Stars were held to a draw by Madagascar, a result that left him disappointed despite what he described as a much-improved second-half performance.
The coach said his side struggled to impose itself during the opening half as Madagascar controlled much of the play, although the visitors created few clear scoring opportunities.
Taifa Stars responded strongly after the break, creating three to four chances and maintaining pressure until the final whistle.
“We are building something good and we need to be patient and have confidence because this is the right way to build a team,” Gamondi said.
He said the team's new style was gradually taking shape as players became more familiar with his approach, adding that continued work was needed to establish a consistent identity.
Gamondi has also been using recent matches to assess younger and less experienced players, giving opportunities to Jonah Amos, Chilambo, Miano Danilo and Cyprian Kachwele.
He said exposing the players to international football would help them gain experience while also giving the technical bench a wider pool of players from which to build the national team.
Despite the draw, Gamondi said Taifa Stars' second-half display deserved greater reward.
“I am disappointed with the result because, considering the way we played in the second half, I believe we deserved to win,” he said.
He praised the players for their determination to fight until the end, saying their response after the interval demonstrated the competitiveness and character he wants to develop within the team.
For Kachwele, the match marked an important personal milestone after he was handed his first starting opportunity for Taifa Stars.
The young midfielder said the experience had strengthened his determination to work harder and improve his game.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to start for Taifa Stars. I am very happy because it is not easy for a young player like me who is pursuing the dream of becoming a footballer to be noticed and given the chance to start,” Kachwele said.
He said the opportunity would motivate him to improve his preparations and raise his performance in future matches.
Miano Danilo also described his first official start for Taifa Stars as a proud moment after years of hard work.
“I worked hard to reach this moment, and this was my first official start. The coach told me yesterday to be ready because I would play today, so I was very happy and excited,” he said.
Miano said representing Tanzania had been a source of pride and that performing on the international stage had given him added motivation to continue working hard.
As Gamondi continues to reshape Taifa Stars, the coach's message is that building a competitive national team will require time, consistency and patience as new players gain experience and the team's playing identity takes shape.