DAR ES SALAAM, June 5 -- THERE are moments in football when results matter less than the message behind them. Tanzanias Under-17 national football team, the Serengeti Boys, delivered one such message during their remarkable campaign at the recently concluded U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Yes, they fell short in the final, losing 4-2 on penalties to Senegal after a spirited contest. Yes, the trophy slipped through their fingers after they surrendered a first-half lead. But when the dust settles, Tanzanians should not dwell on the heartbreak of defeat. Instead, they should celebrate the emergence of a generation that has shown the country what is possible when talent development is given time, support and direction.

The Serengeti Boys have ...