TFF breaks its silence on player buying spree

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has urged premier league clubs to consider boosting their youth policies if they are to save money in buying new players.

In an apparent reference to the current scramble for new signings among the premier league giants, TFF secretary-general Mwesigwa Celestine said the clubs were using “a lot of money” to buy players.

“We are not forcing them (to stop buying); we are advising them,” he said at the official hand over of the kits for this year’s U-17 Airtel Rising Stars competition.

The TFF boss said the tournament could be a good opportunity for premier league clubs to scout players for their second string squads, the U-20 teams.

He revealed that young players scouted through the Airtel Tanzania Raising Stars competition formed over 50 per cent of the National U-17 soccer team, Serengeti Boys, which is in the second round qualifying stages of the African Youths Championships. Serengeti Boys will play South Africa side on August 7 in Johannesburg.

“They are spending a lot of money in buying players because they are results-oriented. But they have to look at this tournament. Currently, the Airtel Tanzania sponsored competition has provided more than half of the Serengeti Boys players, and these are the players who have made us proud,” said Mwesigwa.

Young Africans, Simba SC and Azam FC are at the forefront of a recruitment drive ahead of the new season. The PL giants have gone beyond the borders to take advantage of the TFF’s seven-player allowance for foreigners.

In 2014, TFF told the clubs to cut down the number of foreign players in the league from five to three in a bid to force them to scout for and nurture local talent, something they have not been doing for years.

But last season the clubs successfully pushed through their bid for seven players, though they initially had wanted a maximum of 10.

Mwesiga said yesterday it was now a requirement for local clubs to roll out clear youth development programmes. Clubs without U-20 teams will be penalised through deducting three points in the season that begins on August 20, he said.

Meanwhile, Airtel Tanzania handed over sports equipment worth Sh200 million to the youth teams. The sports gear was handed over to representatives of participating regions.

Airtel Tanzania public relations manager Jackson Mmbando said: “Airtel Rising Stars constitutes part of the ongoing Airtel FURSA campaign launched last year with the aim to empower the youth by providing them with various enabling opportunities. This year’s tournament is yet another opportunity for the youth, boys and girls, to realise their potential.”