Meet The Citizen’s best squad in the just concluded 2023-24 Tanzania Mainland Premier League

Dar es Salaam. With the final whistle blown and the last match played, the 2023/2024 Tanzania Mainland Premier League season has come to a thrilling conclusion.

It has been a year-long battle, with each team putting in their best efforts and reaping the rewards of their hard work.

Indeed, one team has emerged victorious yet again: the Young Africans (Yanga), claiming the league title for a remarkable third consecutive time.

Their triumph solidifies their status as a powerhouse in Tanzanian football, leaving fans in awe of their consistent dominance.

Not far behind, Azam secured the second position, showcasing their skill and resilience throughout the season.

Both Yanga and Azam have now earned the coveted opportunity to represent Tanzania in the next season's CAF Champions League, carrying the hopes and aspirations of the nation's football fans on the continental stage.

While Yanga and Azam set their sights on continental glory, the Msimbazi Street giants, Simba, and Coastal Union, though finishing in the third and fourth positions, respectively, will represent Tanzania in the CAF Confederation Cup.

In celebration of these remarkable talents, The Citizen presents its best eleven line-up based on individual players’ outstanding statistics and excellence displayed throughout the just-concluded season.

From goalkeepers who stood tall between the posts to forwards who dazzled with their goal-scoring prowess, join us as we honour the stars of the Tanzania Mainland Premier League and relive the unforgettable moments that defined the season.

DJIGUI DIARRA (YANGA)

Diarra is currently one of the best goalkeepers in the league. He won the Golden Glove Award twice in a row.

In the just-concluded season, he was in contention for the third consecutive time with 14 clean sheets before being beaten in the final match of the season by Ley Matampi of Coastal Union, who had 15 clean sheets.

Diarra did not play in the last match, which Yanga won 4-1 over Tanzania Prisons. Between Yanga’s goalposts stood Abutwaleeb Mshery.

Another notable achievement for Diarra is helping Yanga secure the championship for three consecutive seasons while being the goalie who conceded the fewest goals (13).

He accomplished this by working closely with defenders Dickson Job and Ibrahim Hamad 'Bacca' to form a solid backline.

KOUASSI YAO (YANGA)

Kouassi Yao is exceptionally good and not to be underestimated due to his high level of performance.

Yao, who has played his first season in the country after joining Yanga from Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast, has emerged as one of the best right-backs.

He scored one goal in the league and provided seven assists.

He is the defender who has contributed the most goal assists this season.

MOHAMMED HUSSEIN 'TSHABALALA' (SIMBA)

Despite Simba’s not-so-stellar performance in the just-ending season, it is difficult to overlook their star player, Mohammed Hussein 'Tshabalala,' due to the excellence he displayed in the Mainland Premier League.

Tshabalala is a leading player who has been executing his duties well, from initiating attacks to falling back to defend. To affirm his impact, he has been involved in six of the team's goals this season.

DICKSON JOB (YANGA)

Yanga head coach, Miguel Gamondi, made many changes in the defence area, but Dickson Job's outstanding performance in the just-concluded season ensured him a permanent spot.

This resulted in the team's captain, Bakari Mwamnyeto, spending time on the bench.

Job is one of the top defenders in the country, and as a nation, we should take pride in his continued excellence.

He has significantly contributed to the team's championship victory in the Mainland Premier League and has also allowed a relatively low number of goals (14).

IBRAHIM HAMAD 'BACCA' (YANGA)

Since this star was signed by Yanga on January 14, 2022, from KMKM Club in Zanzibar, there is no doubt that he has become a key player in the team's defence, despite playing alongside different defenders, including Dickson Job and Bakari Mwamnyeto.

His excellent performance is what led the Yanga bosses to extend his contract until 2027, believing that he will be a catalyst for continued success, including having helped the team defend their Mainland Premier League title for the third consecutive time.

KHALID AUCHO (YANGA)

He was indeed the engine of Yanga in the just-concluded season, as he performed at a consistently high level despite having faced a tough challenge from star teammates such as Jonas Mkude, Zawadi Mauya, and Salum Abubakar, 'Sure Boy’.

Despite missing several games for the team due to injuries, including the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, there is no doubt that the Ugandan deserves a place in the best lineup of that season due to his outstanding performance.

FEISAL SALUM, 'FEI TOTO' (AZAM FC)

This was indeed the best season for this star, who joined Azam FC last season from Yanga.

Since joining the wealthy team from Dar es Salaam, he has been involved in a total of 26 goals out of the team's 63 goals scored.

Feisal scored 19 goals in the league and provided seven assists to engage in a fierce battle with Yanga's star player, Stephane Aziz Ki, who eventually surpassed him on the last day, clinching the Golden Boot award for the season's top scorer.

During the 2022/2023 season, Feisal scored only six goals. This earns him a direct spot in the lineup of the top 11 players who have performed well in the just-ended season.

MAROUF TCHAKEI (SINGIDA FG/IHEFU)

This Togolese also earns a place in the best lineup of the season due to his outstanding performance, despite it being his first season playing in the league after having started with Singida Fountain Gate before joining Ihefu FC.

Tchakei scored 10 goals in the just-concluded league, despite missing several games due to injuries.

This star first arrived in the country and joined Singida Fountain Gate from the AS Vita Club of DR Congo. After showcasing his excellent performance, the Ihefu bosses were impressed with his service and signed him during the January transfer window for the just-ended season.

KIPRE JUNIOR (AZAM FC)

When mentioning the best wingers in the just-concluded season, you would not overlook the name of this Ivorian star, who was involved in a total of 18 out of the 63 goals scored in the league by the entire Azam FC team.

During the season, he scored nine goals and provided nine assists, showcasing his excellent performance by surpassing the number of goals he scored the previous season, during which he managed to score only two goals.

WAZIRI JUNIOR (KMC)

While football fans were questioning why the race for the Golden Boot had shifted to midfielders rather than strikers, in the just-concluded season, one of the most successful forwards was Waziri Junior of KMC.

Junior had a stellar season, as he was the only forward among the top three contenders for the Golden Boot award, having scored 12 goals.

He follows Stephane Aziz Ki of Yanga with 21 goals and Feisal Salum 'Fei Toto' of Azam FC with 19 goals.

The 2019-2020 Tanzania Mainland Premier League season was his best when he was playing for Mbao FC of Mwanza, as he managed to score 13 goals.

STEPHANE AZIZ KI (YANGA)

This talented midfielder from Burkina Faso joined Yanga on July 15, 2022, from Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast. In the two seasons he played for that team, he showcased an outstanding performance that caught the attention of major clubs across Africa.

Aziz Ki is currently the king of Yanga. He won the Golden Boot award in the just concluded Tanzania Mainland Premier League, in which he was involved in a total of 29 goals out of the 67 scored by the entire team.

He scored 21 goals with eight assists in the 27 matches he played, making it his best season with the league champions.

This star deserves a place in the best line-up of the just-concluded season due to his impressive stats, breaking the record he set the previous season when he scored nine goals.

HEAD COACH MIGUEL GAMONDI (YANGA)

In that lineup of eleven players, the head coach would be the Argentine, Miguel Gamondi of Yanga.

Despite coaching the team for just one season, he has shown how well he can utilise players of all types.

Gamondi joined Yanga on June 24 last year, replacing Nasreddine Nabi, who moved to FAR Rabat in Morocco.

Besides defending the league title, he has led the team to the final of the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) and the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League.

Yanga hadn't qualified for the Champions’ League group stage in 25 years before Master Gamondi's tenure.

Formation: (4-1-3-2)