This year’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2024) cast more light on the rapid development that Tanzanian football has received in recent years at the club and national team levels.
In this exclusive interview with Sports247, made possible through corporate support by Showtime, a reliable brand in football promotions, Mohamed Akida, a journalist with HKB Sports of Tanzania, reveals how loads of investments have uplifted football in the East African nation for the past three years…
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Q: Let’s start by getting to know a little about the medium you represent; what does HKB stand for?
A: HKB means Hashim Kinetic Borman. It’s a company that deals with sports news in Tanzania. We also engage in players’ management and protection.
Q: Tanzania appears to be growing recently in African football, and your team even won their first two matches at this year’s CHAN. What’s the secret?
A: I think it’s mostly because, in Tanzania, for maybe three or four years now, a lot of things have been done for football. The stock of Tanzania has been improving because the government has made some new efforts, especially at the club level.
That’s why, in the past three years, we saw that two of our teams reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup. Yanga played USM Algiers of Algeria in 2023, and last season, May 2025, we saw Simba play the final in Zanzibar against Berkane of Morocco.
At the national team level, we have also made some improvements. We have grown in maybe three, four years, as we have been able to play in the CHAN and AFCON tournaments.
Q: Looking at the past two, three years, players from Nigeria, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana have joined Tanzanian clubs; what has made this possible?
A: It’s mostly because of investments by the clubs. At present, in Tanzania, we have three big clubs … Azam, Simba and Yanga (Young Africans). These three clubs have been able to build and grow through various investments that have helped them sign quality players from outside the country.
They have been able to get players from Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco and Ivory Coast. This is also helping them to do well in different major competitions at home and outside the country.
That’s why we have done well in the CAF Confederations, and we are also trying in the CAF Champions League.
Q: Are there any particular players from other countries who are new in Tanzania and already making waves?
A: Yes. Last season, one of the clubs got a player named Stephane Aziz from Burkina Faso, and another got a goalkeeper from Morocco. There is also a player named Rushine de Reuck from South Africa at Simba.
Another player named Ahmed Doumbia just arrived from Ivory Coast and signed at Yanga. Some big coaches have also come in from countries like Germany, Portugal and France.
Q: What then can you say about the standard of the domestic league in Tanzania?
A: Our league is expanding day by day. That’s why we have been able to invite many players from abroad to come and play here. They have also been attracted with good payments.
They not only get good payments, but they also enjoy the type of life we have in Tanzania. Life in Tanzania is very good, and this is something that players in the league always enjoy.
Q: What’s the highest paid player earning here in Tanzania?
A: The highest payment here is about 50 million Tanzania Shillings. That has been the rate for three, four years now. But, this year’s rate has gone higher, and I’m sure the highest payment will increase this season.
Our league is now already rated as number four in Africa. That’s why big payments are already becoming part of the success story for our league.
That’s also why many players agree to come here when they are invited by our clubs to play for them.
Q: The 50 million Tanzanian Shillings you spoke about, is it yearly or monthly payment?
A: That’s the payment the player gets per month. It’s not their yearly payment. It’s the monthly rate for them…
Q: OK, what about the lowest payment … how much is it?
A: The lowest pay may be around 1.5 million, and that’s normally for the local players. They are the ones who get that type of low payment currently in Tanzania’a league.
Q: So, how much is the best local player earning?
A: It’s not like a fixed amount for them or something like that. There’s something we say in Swahili … changamoto … that means challenge yourself to do better. It means a player will have to perform better in order to earn more. The players will get paid more for the results they achieve.
For instance, for the past four seasons, a player named Zango in Young Africans has been doing very well, and he is now wanted by Esperance of Tunisia.
There are some other top players like that who are being signed for one million US dollars. That’s the same amount Esperance are ready to pay Zango to join them.
Q: What’s your summary of all this regarding the rise of Tanzanian football?
A: This shows that our league has improved and the level of competition is very high. Our clubs are doing better, which makes it possible for a team like Esperance to want our our player and coaches from Europe are working with our teams.
All these show that our league is now rated very high, and we are being recognised all across Africa.
Q: What’s the average age of players in Tanzania’s league?
A: Many of them will be 26, 27, or within that range. Few will be in their 30s. Like last season, Yanga had a 32-year-old midfielder named Khalid Aucho from Uganda. He was also one of the players who was paid a very high amount in our country.
He showed his experience and high standard, doing what an international player is supposed to do. I don’t know if he will still play for them this season, because his contract expired and was allowed to go to another club.
Q: Wow! We thank you so much for giving us many details about football in your country, Tabzania..
A: Thank you too for asking…
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