Did former Yanga striker Mayele leave Tanzania while still in love with the club and the country?

Fistol Mayele. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • Mayele's behavior since leaving Yanga, including his public statements and possibly exaggerated grievances, might stem from a desire to maintain a certain image or status.
  • Mayele, just like other foreigners who chance to have lived and worked in Tanzania, tend to get a homesickness and nostalgia for the country after leaving it. Tanzania loves people. Mayele is not as famous in Congo as he is in Tanzania.
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That there is a complex dynamic at play between Fiston Mayele and Yanga Club is an open secret.

There are accusations and tensions on both sides.

Mayele's grievances appear to stem from various sources, including perceived mistreatment by individuals within the club and conflicts with certain fans. However, it's important to separate the individual issues Mayele might have from a broader condemnation of the entire institution or its fan base.

Mayele's behavior, particularly his public airing of grievances on social media platforms like Instagram, may have exacerbated tensions and contributed to the animosity from Yanga fans.

Moreover, accusations of witchcraft causing physical harm to Mayele's leg, while unfounded and unlikely, highlight the extent of the perceived grievances between him and the club. It's essential for both parties to address these issues through constructive dialogue and focus on resolving any misunderstandings or conflicts, rather than escalating them further.

It sounds like Mayele's departure from Yanga was largely driven by the natural progression of his career, as well as financial considerations for both the player and the club. The transfer to a bigger club with better financial offers is a common occurrence in football, and it's understandable that Yanga would face challenges in retaining a player of Mayele's caliber.

The animosity that sometimes arises when players move to rival teams is part of the competitive nature of football, but it doesn't necessarily involve supernatural interventions as Mayele would want the world to believe.

Mayele's behavior since leaving Yanga, including his public statements and possibly exaggerated grievances, might stem from a desire to maintain a certain image or status. Additionally, feelings of homesickness and nostalgia for Tanzania could be contributing to his actions and emotions.

Many former residents of Tanzania, not just footballers like Bernard Morrison, who we often see roaming around Dar es Salaam even though they play professional football in Morocco, but also other foreigners, experience this. Even foreign ambassadors don't hesitate to come back and visit Tanzania after their term ends.

Mayele is not as famous in Congo as he is in Tanzania. This means all his phone notifications are about Tanzania, and he personally would like to be part of that news. It's not surprising to see him constantly stirring up this and that.

It's possible he did go through what he claims, but it's also possible that many players who passed through Simba and Yanga went through similar experiences yet they didn't complain via their phones or on radio. I once heard that Azam told Prince Dube to return the house they had provided for him. I've never heard Dube complain on Instagram.

Clatous Chama went through a tough time at Simba, including being suspended recently. Have you ever seen Chama explaining what happened? All he did was wish Simba well every time they played.

Fans insulted him, but he remained silent. That's how a professional player should behave. A player is a mirror. A coach is a mirror.

A team leader is a mirror. Fans are the ones who always feel they're right about everything. It surprised me to see Mayele popping up in another team's camp and doing official interviews with the club's website. I don't understand how Pyramids' protocol works, but both inside and outside Tanzania, this isn't allowed by many clubs. At least if he had been a former player of that club, but he's a club he's never even touched their jersey. Even worse was when he seemed to reveal the club's secrets. How the president fired the coach.

How they weren't given allowances despite being paid high salaries. These weren't meaningful conversations to have. Unity within the club can greatly diminish. In the end, I think Mayele should focus more on his work while Yanga focuses on theirs.

I think Yanga is busier with their work, and that's why they've managed to fill the gap left by the player himself. They didn't fill it with the individual player's ability but with the team's ability to utilize various opportunities they get.

Mayele should forget Tanzania for a while and focus on the hefty salary he's currently earning. Tanzania will always be there. He can come back later and join Simba or Azam.

It's only a matter of time given how much he seems to love Tanzania. But for now, he should put his phone aside and be more focused on his football work. At a quick glance, you don't see the main issue between Mayele and Yanga.

It's just a waste of time that doesn't make sense. I don't see a reason for Yanga to fight with Mayele or for Mayele to fight with Yanga. Once a player leaves, there's no reason for another long-term conflict. Maybe if there's a dispute over his owed payments or a dispute over the club not receiving money from the club he moved to. Otherwise, other conflicts seem baseless.