Great trek to Tanzania: Players look North for better prospects

Fungai Muderere
ZIMBABWEAN soccer players seem to have been bitten by the Tanzanian bug of late with some of the countryaï¿½ï¿½s best players choosing it as their destination despite the fact that Tanzania does not have a traditionally revered league.

Abbas Amidu is the latest Zimbabwean footballer to attract interest from Tanzanian club Azam FC, and renowned player agent George Deda believes that his move and that of other stars is justified.

The great trek to the Central African country, it would seem, is inevitable.

Deda, an agent for Amidu and Highlandersaï¿½ï¿½ Bruce Kangwa, who are both set to sign for Azam FC, said the Tanzanian league pays better than other foreign leagues including the famous Absa Premiership in South Africa.

aï¿½?I will personally discourage a Zimbabwean player to move to South Africa. The tide has changed given the value of the US dollar now as compared to the South African rand,aï¿½? said Deda.

He said players in Tanzania get a monthly salary of between $3 000 and $5 000, an average of $500 as winning bonus and match appearance fee of $100.

aï¿½?Itaï¿½ï¿½s no wonder why Thabani Kamusoko, Donald Ngoma and Obrey Chirwa left FC Platinum to join Young Africans in Tanzania. Platinum are arguably the best paying club in Zimbabwe,aï¿½? said Deda.

Chirwa reportedly signed for Young Africans in a $120 000 deal.

aï¿½?Itaï¿½ï¿½s a professional league where clubs can even go for pre-season camps in places such as Dubai. Kangwa and Amidu were recently in Dubai with Azam FC. They have been having workouts at state of the art facilities in Tanzania,aï¿½? added the Harare-based player agent.

Former Kenya striker, Bernard Mwalala, who previously turned out for Tanzanian clubs gave reason as to why Kenyan players and others from Africa have seemingly fallen in love with Tanzaniaaï¿½ï¿½s Vodacom sponsored league.

The former Kenya international, who has been out of the international limelight in recent times, is on record stating that the uniqueness of Tanzania makes it a great attraction for many players.

Handsome sign-on fees

Foreign players live very well in Tanzania. Even once they stop playing football, it is easy to venture into business in Tanzania,aï¿½? said Mwalala in a one-on-one with mwanaspoti.co.tz

aï¿½?Passion for football is very high in Tanzania and fans hold foreign players in very high regard.

The pay aï¿½ï¿½ salaries and incentives are also very attractive,aï¿½? added Mwalala who has played club football in Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, Tanzania and Oman.

The Tanzanian league for several years now has been a great attraction to many Kenyan players due to the higher pay as well as handsome signing on fees.

The recent past
In 2008, two Kenyan players were paid US$ 15 000, to sign up for Young Africans (Yanga) and the figures have become better over time.

In came Kenyaaï¿½ï¿½s top players that include Jerry Santo and Hillary Echesa who turned out for Simba Sports Club while defender Ibrahim Shikanda was at Azam FC.

In the recent past several other Kenyan players; Maurice Sunguti, Francis Ouma, Hassan Aden, Joseph Ruto, John Baraza, George Owino, Mike Baraza, Osborne Monday, Crispin Odula among many others have turned out for a club or more in the Tanzanian league. .