Tanzania counts cost of Brazil friendly

Brazil were watched by a half-empty stadium in Tanzania! The Tanzanian Football Federation are facing a big financial loss after a poor turnout to see Brazil beat Tanzania 5-1 in a friendly match on Monday. Fans were put off by record entrance fees ranging from 25-180 US dollars to see the world’s best team. The Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) hoped to raise about US$3m and cushion an estimated US$2.5m used to secure a friendly against the Brazilians.

But the 60,000-seater stadium was only half-full for the evening game with a poor attendance of only 35,000.

The match fee paid to Brazil triggered a debate in Tanzania with some people questioning the rationale behind a poor country spending massively on a single match. This forced the government to come clean on the matter, saying it had contributed nothing to the costs.

“Inviting Brazil was the TFF’s responsibility,” the minister of sports George Mkuchika said.

“They have taken a bank loan, which they will repay through gate collections, so the government should not be accused of anything”.

Away from the costs, the game was excitement-filled, especially after the host team managed to grab a goal against the five-time world champions in the 5-1 loss.

The stadium erupted with joy after Jabir Aziz’s goal in the dying minutes of the game, while Brazil coach Carlos Dunga praised his hosts for ‘a good test’.

Robinho and Ramirez scored two goals each and Kaka was also on target as Brazil wrapped up their preparation before starting their World Cup Group G campaign against North Korea on 15 June.

“It was a good test for Brazil because Tanzania is a good team, very well organised,” Dunga said afterward.

“The idea was to play teams with high speed, physically strong, so it was good for us to play Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

“My target is the same as all Brazilian people, to win the World Cup.”

Dunga used his full-strength squad and all his players came through the match unscathed.

The Brazilian team at Julius Nyerere International Airport

President Jakaya Kikwete exchanging words with Kaka