Surprise as Ngasa vies for VPL gong
Yanga forwards Mrisho Ngasa celebrate after scoring a goal during a Premier League match at the National Stadium. photo | file
What you need to know:
Ngasa, indisputably one of the best attackers in the country, was frozen out of Yanga’s first X1, making his appearances as a substitute
Dar es Salaam. Wonders never cease. Mrisho Ngasa, the Young Africans winger who has been warming the bench for a long spell of the 2014/15 Vodacom Premier League, is in contention for the Best Player of the Year award.
Ngasa, indisputably one of the best attackers in the country, was frozen out of Yanga’s first X1, making his appearances as a substitute.
However, with the final list of nominees for the top award released, Ngasa is seemingly the luckiest player in the Premier League.
Yanga head coach Hans van der Pluijm always handed Ngasa the substitute role, but in what may puzzle soccer lovers, the Mwanza-born attacker, who scored just four goals, stands a chance to walk away with the top prize.
Apart from Ngasa, other players who will be challenging for the coveted prize are Yanga’s Simon Msuva, who won the golden boot after scoring 17 goals and Simba SC left-back Mohamed Hussein.
It, however, remains to be seen if the nominations reflect the truth on the pitch as players who played more games and scored more goals/ assists have been ignored.
Yanga striker Amis Tambwe, the previous season’s top scorer, netted 14 goals while Didier Kavumbagu was also far better than Ngasa with 12 goals.
JKT Ruvu’s Samuel Kamuntu deserved to be in contention after a fine season in which he scored eight goals while Azam’s Kipre Tchetche and Brian Majwega’s goals and assists eclipse Ngasa’s second half cameos.
The Best Player of the Year will be known today during the prize giving ceremony set for JB Belmonte at the Golden Jubilee Tower.
The chief guest will be the deputy minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Juma Nkamia.
Baraka Kizuguto, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) media and communication officer, said the trio were selected after considering their contributions to their respective teams.
The league reached its climax on May 9 with Yanga clinching their 25th title, dethroning Azam who settled for the second spot.
“Msuva, Ngasa and Hussein are our final contenders for the award and they have been picked after a thorough analysis of their contribution to their teams,” he said.
According to Kizuguto, the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) and TFF were to meet and pick the best player for the award from the trio.
Besides, Yanga’s Dutch head coach Van Pluijm has been selected to contest the best coach’s award after leading the Jangwani Street heavyweights to the title.
He is not alone. Simba SC Serbian tactician Goran Kopunovic and Tanzania Prisons’ Mbwana Makata are also in the list.
Kizuguto said the Serb has been considered following his laudable transformation of Simba who were in the relegation zone by the time he took up the reigns.
Makata made the cut for helping Tanzania Prisons avoid the drop on the last day of the 2014/15 season.
Other categories to be contested in today’s gala include the Best Goalkeeper’s Award. The shot-stoppers vying for the top honour are Mohamed Yusuf (Tanzania Prisons), Said Mohamed (Mtibwa Sugar) and Shaban Kado (Coastal Union).
In the referees category, Israel Mjuni Nkongo, Jonesia Rukyaa and Samwel Mpenzu have made the cut while the most disciplined team will see Mgambo JKT, Mtibwa Sugar and Simba SC contest.
