Contract disputes threaten growth of Tanzania football

Dar es Salaam. Despite clear regulations governing Tanzania’s Mainland Premier League, recurring disputes between players and clubs continue to threaten the professional growth of local football.

An investigation by The Citizen has established that the disputes are driven less by weak regulations and more by limited legal awareness among players, poor contract management and financial challenges facing clubs.

The findings show that while Tanzania’s football legal framework is largely comprehensive, many players and clubs either do not fully understand contractual obligations or fail to honour them, leading to avoidable disputes.

Financial instability has also emerged as a major trigger, with some clubs struggling to meet salary obligations while players often sign contracts without legal guidance.

The result has been repeated contractual conflicts, delayed dispute resolution processes and growing mistrust within the football sector.

Several recent disputes have escalated to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and, in some cases, to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).

What the law says According to the Tanzania Premier League Board contracts framework under Chapter 345, a contract is defined as a voluntary agreement intended to bind parties to specific obligations.

Rule 74(15) of the 2025 Mainland Premier League regulations, together with Fifa’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP), outlines how player contracts should be drafted, respected and terminated.

Under Rule 74, Chapter 14, Article 9, a player with a contract exceeding six months cannot register with another club unless an agreement is reached between the current and prospective clubs.

Fifa Regulation Article 13 further states that contracts may only be terminated by mutual consent or upon expiry, while Article 14 permits termination only under “just cause” or “sporting just cause”, including prolonged salary non-payment.

Despite these provisions, breaches remain common. Players sometimes move clubs without mutual agreements, while clubs fail to meet salary commitments, forcing cases to be referred to TFF committees and, occasionally, Fifa.

Need for greater awareness National Sports Council (NSC) Secretary General Neema Msitha said many disputes arise because players sign contracts without legal representation.

“This has become a major challenge. Often, players sign contracts without lawyers reviewing the terms. As a result, disputes arise because the agreements are not fully understood,” she said.

Ms Msitha said the NSC has intensified education programmes targeting players, especially those without agents or managers, to help them understand contractual terms before signing.

She also called on the TFF to strengthen supervision of both clubs and players to ensure contracts are respected.

Meanwhile, Soccer Players Association of Tanzania (SPATA) chairman Musa Kissoky said many disputes could be avoided if both sides honoured their agreements professionally.

“If players and clubs respect their contracts professionally, most disputes will disappear. Football in Tanzania is still developing and learning from past mistakes is important,” he said.

Financial pressures on clubs Mtibwa Sugar FC chief executive officer Swabri Aboubakar said financial difficulties remain one of the biggest causes of disputes.

“Our league has grown significantly due to increased sponsorship and investment, giving clubs opportunities to pay players on time,” he said. “However, some clubs still struggle financially, which leads to disputes. The solution is diversification of revenue and stronger financial planning.”

Lawyer Alloyce Komba said player agents also have a critical role in preventing disputes, provided they understand football laws and Fifa regulations.

“Following global models is not wrong. For example, Jorge Mendes, who manages more than 139 players worldwide, operates strictly within Fifa regulations,” he said.

Sports lawyer Jacob Mashenene said clubs should establish independent internal dispute resolution mechanisms before matters escalate to TFF committees.

“An independent mechanism would help resolve disputes fairly without bias. Many cases reach TFF because parties fail to reach agreements early,” he said.

Push for digital registration Former chairperson of the TFF Legal and Player Status Committee, Said Soud, said plans are underway to introduce a digital registration system aimed at reducing administrative disputes.

“Modern football is increasingly digital. Online registration will significantly reduce problems,” said Mr Soud, who also serves as chairman of Mtibwa Sugar FC.

According to him, the system will allow real-time monitoring by clubs, players and regulators, improving transparency and accountability.

“The current paper-based system creates room for manipulation and weak documentation. Digital registration will improve integrity and enforcement,” he said.

Looking ahead Stakeholders interviewed by The Citizen agree that stronger enforcement of regulations, improved legal education for players and better financial planning by clubs are necessary to reduce disputes and support the professionalisation of Tanzanian football.

Without reforms, they warn, contract disputes will continue undermining the growth of local football and affecting Tanzania’s competitiveness regionally and internationally.