Njohole: Why I didn’t play for Arsenal and AFC Bournemouth
Former Simba and Taifa Stars player Nicodemus Njohole (centre) speaks to Mwananchi Communications Limited journalists, Olipa Assa (right) and Majuto Omary during a special interview about his career. PHOTO | LOVENESS BERNARD
What you need to know:
- Njohole, who played for Simba and the national football team, Taifa Stars, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, would have been a legend in the English league
Dar es Salaam. One of Tanzania's famous football legends, Nicodemus Njohole, has revealed that if it weren’t for the bureaucracy of the previous Football Association of Tanzania (FAT), he would be the first Tanzanian to play in the English Premier League.
Njohole, who played for Simba and the national football team, Taifa Stars, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, made the comment in an exclusive interview with The Citizen in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
He recounted that after a successful season with Simba in 1982, he travelled to England in search of better opportunities for his career.
"One of my close friends, Mzee Maulid, who worked for a mining firm in England, representing a Tanzanian company, invited me to pursue greener pastures there,” said Njohole.
"As you know, during those days, and even now, every football player dreams of playing abroad.
For me, it was a golden opportunity as I was at the peak of my career, with a strong fan base," he added.
Former Simba and Taifa Stars player Nicodemus Njohole speaks during a special interview about his career with Mwananchi Communications Limited journalists. PHOTO | LOVENESS BERNARD
Njohole explained that he completed all the necessary procedures to leave the country and travelled to England.
He said his host warmly welcomed him and had already arranged a trial with a team.
"After a few days, I attended a training session with AFC Bournemouth.
It was a great moment for me as the technical bench admired my skills and proposed that I join the team.
“They asked me to provide clearance from the Football Association of Tanzania (FAT), but that’s where the problems began.
Mzee Maulid and I communicated with FAT officials, but they were uncooperative, and no one was willing to help,” he said.
After the deal with AFC Bournemouth fell through, Mzee Maulid, who had connections in London, arranged a trial with Arsenal, who accepted.
However, Njohole was told he would only attend training sessions if he provided clearance from FAT, as well as a work permit.
"Arsenal were different because they were in the Premiership and had strict rules and regulations.
They needed clearance, a work permit, and insurance.
The main obstacle was obtaining clearance that led to yet another roadblock.
Arsenal were ready to host me in training sessions due to my performances with AFC Bournemouth, but once again, I was asked to provide the same documents... That was the end of my story to play in England," he explained.
Afterward, Njohole said, he and Mzee Maulid contacted Kassim Manara, who was playing in Austria.
He said Kassim Manara responded positively and travelled to that country, and secured a team for him to play for.
Njohole mentioned that he played for SV Wernberg in 1982 and 1983 before joining ASKÖ Raika Fürnitz, where he remained from 1983 until his retirement in 1998.
