women-from-tanzania

"I am very happy because we practiced enough and the coach emphasized the benefits of winning this game and this tournament as it will expose our talent, so what I can say is that I promise our fans we will continue to practice towards fulfilling our dreams of becoming good football players"

"I feel pressure but also happiness every time I play for my nation."

"Personally, I want to continue to play at a good level at all times and, ultimately, I want to become the best player in Africa and the world."

"Cristiano Ronaldo is my hero in the men’s game."

"It was difficult initially to get used to the environment in Saudi Arabia, including the language, food and many things, but now I’m used to it and everything is going well, and I’m happy."

"I had a very good time in Spain but when I got a chance to go play in the Saudi league, I thought it was better to look at other challenges based on my goals."

"There is a lot of potential among young girls in Tanzania. They need to know that if they work hard, they can succeed, help their families and make their country proud. Women's football is a way forward."

"You shouldn't be afraid to show your talent, to fight for your dreams."

"Today, football can be a career, a real opportunity for emancipation."

"I would tell her to believe in herself. The path is not easy, it is true, but it is worth it."

"First of all because it's an opportunity to play against the best players on the continent. But also because it is a showcase to show the development of women's football in Tanzania. Through this competition, we have the opportunity to make our country, our level, our ambitions known. It is also a way to prove that Tanzania has its place on the African stage, that our efforts to advance women's football are starting to bear fruit."

"I want to fight for my country, give the best of myself on the pitch and make the Tanzanian team proud. I'm really looking forward to this experience."

"It's a very special moment for me. It's the first time I'm going to participate in a senior AFCON, so I'm both excited and focused. I'm preparing seriously, physically and mentally. It's a big step in my career."

"We respect our opponents, but we're not going to be satisfied with being there. We will fight, proudly represent our country and try to get results. We are ready to take up the challenge."

"We wish each other good luck, we discuss the preparation with our respective teams. It's nice to know that we will be several representatives of the same club in such an important competition. It strengthens the bonds, and we motivate each other to represent our countries and our colours well."

"It's little moments like that that that remain engraved. He's a world star, and to be able to cross paths in the same club is something inspiring."

"My personal success only counts if it helps the team move forward."

"I rely a lot on the advice of my coaches, whether at club or national level. They help me to progress, to stay focused on my goals. I'm also very attentive to my teammates, I learn from them. I think the main thing is to stay humble, to work hard every day, and to always keep in mind the collective goals."

"We are very motivated. It has been a long time since Tanzania has participated in a women's AFCON finals, so the whole team – players and staff – is happy to be back. There is a real excitement at the idea of representing our country at this level."

"We are preparing seriously, with a lot of desire, and we are aware of the importance of this tournament for us, for our country, and for the development of women's football in Tanzania."

"That match was necessary for us. It gave us a chance to identify areas where we can improve and strengthen our game. We learned a lot — both from our successes and our mistakes — and we’ve been working day and night to address those things"

"We feel that we represented our nation with honour. We gave everything that we could and at least out of the three games, we scored two goals and gained a point against the defending champions South Africa. That is something. Our plan is to come back to the WAFCON"

"For all of us that played at this WAFCON, this was our first time to feature at the tournament. We came here with the sole goal of going to the final, but we fell short. We did not fail because we leave here with so many lessons learnt"

"Against South Africa, we scored first and against Ghana, we came from behind to equalise but then conceded three more goals. We shall take the lessons. We are going back home to assess our performance and to plan for the future"

"We leave here with the understanding of tournament football. How you start sets the pace for the rest of the tournament. Against Mali, we felt that we did everything that was possible to win but conceded a late goal"

"Even though we’re far away, we need your support more than ever. We ask for your prayers, your encouragement and your belief in us. We are representing Tanzania on this stage and we promise to give everything we have"

"We know it won’t be easy, but we are determined. This team is ready. We have faced adversity before, and we know how to rise above it.” She also extended a heartfelt plea to Tanzanians back home"

"We have worked incredibly hard and we know what’s at stake. Every player, coach and member of the technical bench is fully committed to ensuring we perform at our best"

"Tanzania is the home of Swahili language and there is nothing as amazing to me as celebrating the birthplace of this amazing culture and language that's spoken widely or natively in over 14 different countries in Africa. So I try to incorporate Swahili as much as possible in my music – in my style, my fashion and other aspects of my musical artistry to celebrate my Tanzanian roots."

"Moreover, I had an opportunity to chat with other LNC participants from other parts of the world. The conversations were so insightful. Before coming to Georgia, I had a few questions related to democratic principles and values. The conversations I had with my peers during this program were so rich, and I was able to address some of these questions. Imagine!! Meeting peers with many years of experience in promoting democracy from almost all over the world — it was epic. I am pleased that I am more informed, and I am more confident that, today, I can give comparative knowledge when it comes to governance issues to aid my work. Being part of the LNC program kept me on track."

"I remember that on our way to Kazbegi, we stopped at a place called the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument. The Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument was built in the Soviet era to symbolize the friendship between the two nations. However, it has stirred controversy among Georgians. While some view it as a painful reminder of conflicts between Russia and Georgia, criticisms emerge regarding the painting inside the wall, accused of presenting a biased narrative, and its location along the Georgian Military Highway is seen by some as a reminder of unresolved conflicts. After learning the story behind the Monument, I understand the hesitation on the Georgian side. I also realized that unless people and countries share common values, the sustainability and the meaning of symbolic structures like the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument will forever remain fiction."

"In my home country of Tanzania, very few people know about Georgia; however, Georgia is a country you will find impossible to forget. The most memorable things were the warmth and hospitality of Georgians, breathtaking nature, the captivating mixture of old and new architecture in the capital Tbilisi, and the adventure of bouncing into traditional dances, customs, cuisine, and places I had never known even existed."

"I have battled stress and depression. I have faced the roughest time in my spiritual journey, faced insecurity but I am well now. I will narrate what I went through when God alAll my children are in school. All of them have different fathers because every one of them left me when I was either pregnant or when the child was young. I have however managed to enroll them in good schools and soon my firstborn will be graduating with a degree in law."

"I refuse to be anyone’s sex slave…"

"People will find it strange but Michael Jackson was a great inspiration. His music brought the world together as mine did. My inspiration also comes from my everyday challenges. I sing every song to praise God for holding my hand in my music career."

"That is why I composed a song for President Uhuru. Kenya is like my second home and has given me a lot of opportunities. I get inspiration from fellow artists like Emmy Kosgei and get to appreciate people with great music like Mary Atieno."

"It gave me a boost of confidence. It reaffirmed my belief that dreams do come true. No matter where you come from, hard work and dedication really pay off."

"I don't even know how to describe how I was feeling because she's my number one inspiration"

"We finished writing and recording it in under an hour."

"I wrote the song from my heart"

"It's very personal… and I think people relate to how deep the lyrics are"

"I was lucky enough to be born into a musical family. Both my grandparents were musical, so seeing them sort of encouraged me to want to do something in this space. My grandfather was a musical director of an orchestra and my grandmother sang in the church choir, so it’s safe to say music has been a part of my life for a while."

"I was young and naive, comma, I didn't know my worth so I let them decide my fate, including what to pay me, .I never questioned. I didn't understand the business and, were still, I lacked someone to offer me the much needed guidance on how to invest.I have paid a heavy price for my naivety."

"Yes, they will come, as I said. They have been following everything that is happening. They will come when they are ready. Now, that depends on them. I, I am not. I am not against them coming."

"I can say that I am still a little relieved that this struggle of more than 30 years, or let's say 35 years, has come to an end. I can say that I feel a sense of relief in that regard."

"It's not me who chooses, that's their will, it depends on them. They are free. They are adults. They are no longer children. They are men. They are people your age, people of your generation"

"You know that the bodies have been exhumed, and that resuscitation has not yet been performed. The next step would be to bury them. We are preparing for that. And then? Well, now everyone will mourn."

"But he still hasn't spoken to us. He still has a chance to, he should explain"

"I thought he was just looking for a way to explain to us what happened."

"Like everyone else, I want this transition to run smoothly."