Dar es Salaam. Acting Taifa Stars Head Coach, Miguel Gamondi, has expressed deep frustration over the repeated errors that cost his team a morale-boosting victory during his first match in charge.
The national side fell to a 4-3 defeat against Kuwait in an international friendly played on Saturday in Egypt, despite holding a commanding 2-0 lead at the interval.
Taifa Stars started the encounter with intent and confidence, dominating possession and showing fluidity in their build-up play.
Their early control was rewarded when Charles M’Mombwa opened the scoring, finishing off a well-coordinated attacking move.
Moments later, Tarryn Allarakhia doubled the advantage, giving Tanzanians hope that the Gamondi era was off to a bright start.
Gamondi’s side displayed impressive discipline in the opening half.
Their defensive shape was solid, transitions were quick, and the players showed a clear understanding of the tactical instructions given by the new coach.
This strong start made the collapse that followed in the second half even more concerning.
The match turned dramatically after the restart.
Within just 24 minutes, Taifa Stars conceded four goals, exposing serious lapses in concentration and organisation.
The defenders struggled to cope with Kuwait’s quick interplay, while the midfield lost its earlier grip on the game.
Although M’Mombwa netted again to complete his brace restoring hope briefly with Stars’ third goal the damage had already been done.
The failure to manage the game under pressure proved decisive, and the team could not claw back the deficit.
Speaking after the match, Gamondi was visibly disappointed, criticising the nature of the goals conceded.
He stressed that at international level, repeated mistakes of this kind are unacceptable, particularly after such a promising first-half performance.
“We played very well in the first half; we were calm and clear in our intentions,” Gamondi said.
“But the early minutes of the second half destroyed everything. We cannot concede three or four goals from the same repeated mistakes. This must be corrected immediately.”
Gamondi insisted that the issue was not a lack of quality within the squad, but a worrying drop in focus.
He highlighted that the team’s five to ten minutes of carelessness were enough to overturn all their good work from the first period.
“The team slowed down, lost intensity, and began making the wrong decisions,” he noted.
“That’s where the game slipped away from us. In international football, you cannot assume that a two-goal lead is enough you must stay concentrated until the final whistle.”
The coach also pointed out that the match served as an important lesson for him personally, as he continues to familiarise himself with the squad.
He said the game exposed gaps in communication between the defensive and midfield units, as well as the team’s ability to respond to increased pressure from the opposition.
Gamondi believes that improving game management will be crucial going forward.
He emphasised the need for players to control the tempo of matches, understand when to slow the game down, and avoid unnecessary risks when defending a lead.
Despite his frustration, Gamondi recognised several positives.
He said the first-half performance demonstrated that Taifa Stars have the potential to play attractive football, with good technical awareness and attacking intent.
He praised the movement of the forwards and the creativity shown in the build-up to the goals.
The coach also commended the effort and character shown by some of the players, particularly those who maintained their intensity even as the game became more difficult.
He expressed optimism that, with more training sessions, the team could build on the encouraging aspects seen in the opening 45 minutes.
Looking ahead, Gamondi stressed that his focus will be on tightening defensive organisation and ensuring that players remain mentally strong throughout matches.
He believes that correcting these issues will be key as the team prepares for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ultimately, the Argentine tactician urged patience, reminding fans that rebuilding a national team takes time.
He promised that the lessons learned from the defeat would form an important part of the team’s development.
Gamondi concluded by assuring supporters that despite the disappointing result, he remains confident in the potential of Taifa Stars.
He reiterated his commitment to developing a winning mentality and ensuring that the team becomes more resilient in managing difficult moments during matches.
