Dar es Salaam. The swirling noise and constant speculation over the future of Yanga SC striker Clement Mzize have finally been put to bed.
The Tanzanian champions have announced that their star forward will remain with the club, refusing to cash in despite receiving lucrative offers from across Africa and the Middle East.
In recent weeks, Mzize’s name dominated football conversations from Dar es Salaam to Cairo, Rabat, and Johannesburg.
Giants such as Zamalek (Egypt), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), and Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) were all linked with the young striker, while Qatar’s Al Asad reportedly prepared a staggering Tsh2 billion package to tempt him away.
Yet, Yanga have chosen stability over short-term financial gain.
A Firm Stance from Management
Club sources confirmed that Mzize, who is under contract until 2027, will see out his deal.
The rationale is simple: having already sold Ivorian playmaker Stephane Aziz Ki to Wydad Casablanca earlier this window, Yanga could not afford to lose another cornerstone of their squad.
“After selling Aziz Ki, we decided we could not let another key player leave in the same period,” said one insider.
“Despite signing 11 new players, including several attackers, Mzize has been retained for a very specific reason. Last season, he carried the team’s attack and was the top-scoring Tanzanian in the league. To lose him now would have been disastrous.”
Mzize: The New Face of Yanga’s Attack
At just 21, Clement Mzize has already become a symbol of Yanga’s future. His rise has been steady, season by season, ever since he was promoted to the senior team in 2022.
2022/23 season: 6 goals, 1 assist
2023/24 season: 6 goals, 7 assists
2024/25 season: 14 goals, 6 assists
That makes 25 goals in three Premier League campaigns, making him one of the most consistent young strikers in East Africa.
Last season was his true breakout year.
He was the only Yanga player to feature in all 30 league matches, scoring 14 goals and assisting 6 times in 1,877 minutes of play.
His influence was so significant that many analysts credited him with being the difference-maker in the club’s successful title defence.
Offers Too Good to Refuse
Mzize’s performances naturally drew attention from abroad. Reports revealed the scale of the offers on Yanga’s table:
Umm Salal (Qatar): $900,000 (approx. Sh2.2 billion) plus a monthly salary of $20,000 (approx. Sh50 million).
Esperance (Tunisia): $1 million (approx. Sh2.6 billion).
Al Asad (Qatar): Ready to table Sh2 billion in transfer fees.
In a league where financial muscle is often limited, such figures are rare.
But Yanga’s hierarchy stood firm. Media and Communications Manager Ally Kamwe confirmed the decision in clear terms:
“Mzize will remain with Yanga to honour his contract, which runs until 2027. He is not going anywhere.”
Squad Reinforcement, But No Replacement for Mzize
Yanga have been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer window, bringing in 11 new signings. In the attack, they added names such as:
Celestin Ecua (Ivory Coast): 13 goals and 12 assists last season at Zoman in the Ivorian Premier League.
Offen Chikola (Tanzania): 7 goals and 2 assists with Tabora United in the Tanzanian Premier League.
Andy Boyeli (DR Congo): 6 goals in 25 matches with Sekhukhune United in South Africa’s PSL.
Edmund John (Tanzania): Yet to open his scoring account, but seen as a prospect.
While these players strengthen squad depth, none has Mzize’s combination of experience, reliability, and local identity.
For Yanga, keeping him is not only about goals it is about leadership, stability, and maintaining a Tanzanian heartbeat within a multinational squad.
Learning from the Aziz Ki Situation
The decision to retain Mzize is strongly tied to lessons from Aziz Ki’s departure.
Aziz Ki, who had been Yanga’s midfield maestro and a Golden Boot winner the previous season, left for Wydad Casablanca, leaving a creative vacuum.
“Letting both Aziz Ki and Mzize leave in the same window would have been reckless,” said the insider. “That’s why Pacome Zouzoua was given a contract extension and why Mzize has been ring-fenced from any transfer moves. We want continuity while new signings adapt.”
Aucho’s Possible Return and Midfield Balance
Yanga’s midfield is also under scrutiny after long-serving anchorman Khalid Aucho departed for Singida Black Stars.
The club recruited Moussa Bala Conte from CS Sfaxien to replace him, but early indications suggest the Ugandan veteran’s absence is still felt.
There are already whispers that Aucho could return in the January window if the team struggles to find balance in the holding role.