WATCH: Tanzania national football team players snub female journalist on Live TV
By DAVID KWALIMWALosing a football match can prove a painful affair for any professional footballer but then explaining that loss seems like a more embarrassing experience.
This could be why several Tanzania national football team players recently snubbed an opportunity for a live TV interview moments after their team had lost a crucial game.
Taifa Stars were beaten 1-0 by lowly Lesotho in Maseru on Sunday in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
DEJECTED PLAYERS
A win would have guaranteed the Taifa Stars’ qualification to the continental showpiece for the first time in 38-years.
After the game, visibly dejected Taifa Stars players, including goalkeeper Aisha Manula flatly turned down an opportunity to appear on live TV for a post-match interview.
“Tanzanians would love to know, why is it that when you win you have something to say (in the post-match interview), and when you lose that is not the case. Please talk to your compatriots, we still have a chance (of qualifying),” the visibly frustrated journalist is seen imploring Manula in a video posted on Facebook.
In the clip, which was shot in the players’ changing room, two more players similarly snubbed the female journalist.
SECURE QUALIFICATION
Tanzania needs to win their last home game against already qualified Uganda in Group L to stand a chance of securing qualification.
But it won’t be easy given that President Yoweri Museveni has asked his charges to ensure they don’t lose that game.
Even if the Cranes have already qualified, I know that they still have a game to play against Tanzania. Please make sure you do not lose that game. Congratulations once again. pic.twitter.com/e3G1ATkNDz
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) November 20, 2018
Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Taifa Stars players indeed ‘reimbursed’ President John Pombe Magufuli a staggering Sh2million cash token which he conditionally offered them before the match against Lesotho.