Dar es Salaam. As last season’s Mainland Premier League drew to a close, a heated debate erupted over who truly deserved the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
While many believed Yanga’s Pacome Zouzoua was the rightful candidate, others backed Simba’s star forward Jean Charles Ahoua.
Although the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) delayed organising the official awards gala, the conversation has reignited after the federation confirmed that the ceremony for the 2023/2024 season will be held on December 5, 2025 at the Super Dome Masaki in Dar es Salaam.
Pacome, Dickson Job, Maxi Nzengeli (all of Yanga), SImba’s Ahoua and Azam FC’s midfield maestro Feisal Salum ‘Fei Toto’ have all been shortlisted for the prestigious MVP award.
With the new 2025/2026 season already underway, anticipation continues to rise as stakeholders await the final verdict.
The event will feature five categories: Mainland Premier League Awards, FA Cup Awards, Women’s Premier League Awards, other league awards and administrative honours.
A new award Best Tanzanian Female Player Abroad has been introduced for the 2024/2025 season.
Race for the Premier League MVP
Five standout players from Simba, Yanga and Azam have been nominated:
• Dickson Job (Yanga)
• Pacome Zouzoua (Yanga)
• Maxi Nzengeli (Yanga)
• Jean Charles Ahoua (Simba)
• Feisal Salum ‘Fei Toto’ (Azam)
Ahoua finished last season as the league’s top scorer with 16 goals and 10 assists, steering Simba to second place, while Pacome, Job and Maxi were instrumental in guiding Yanga to a fourth consecutive league title. Fei Toto lifted Azam to a third-place finish.
If any of the Yanga trio wins, it will mark the fourth straight season that the MVP emerges from Jangwani. Previous winners include Stephane Aziz Ki, Fiston Mayele and Yannick Bangala.
Women’s Premier League Awards
Nominees for the Best Women’s Premier League Player are:
• Donisia Minja
• Stumai Abdallah (JKT Queens)
• Jeannine Mukandayisenga (Yanga Princess)
• Jentrix Shikangwa (Simba Queens)
• Esther Maseke (Bunda Queens)
Refereeing and Coaching Categories
Best Premier League Referee:
Ahmed Arajiga (Manyara), Saad Mrope (Dodoma) and Abdallah Mwinyimkuu (Singida)
Best Premier League Coach:
Fadlu Davids (formerly Simba), Rachid Taoussi (Azam) and Ahmad Ally (JKT Tanzania)
FA Cup awards
Best Player:
Clement Mzize, Stephane Aziz Ki (Yanga), Emmanuel Keyekeh (Singida Black Stars)
Best Goalkeeper:
Djigui Diarra (Yanga), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars), Yakoub Suleiman (JKT Tanzania)
Top Scorer:
Mohamed Bakari (JKT Tanzania) – 5 goals
Women’s football
Awards include Best Goalkeeper, Emerging Talent, Best Coach, Best Referee, Best Assistant Referee and Team with Best Discipline.
Tanzanians abroad
Best Male Player Abroad:
Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre), Novatus Dismas (Goztepe), Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba SC)
Best Female Player Abroad:
Opa Clement (FC Juarez, Mexico), Diana Lucas (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Enekia Kasonga (Mazatlán FC, Mexico)
Championship and first league
Shortlisted players include Andrew Simchimba, Mwani Willy Thobias, Raizin Hafidh, George Elwin Komba, Moses Peter Kitandu and Ramadhani Hashimu Kalanje.
Administrative and special awards
Special honours to be announced include:
• Football Legend Award
• Women’s Football Honour
• President’s Award
• Honour Award
Additional premier league categories
• Best Goalkeeper: Djigui Diarra (Yanga), Moussa Camara (Simba – 19 clean sheets), Patrick Munthary (Mashujaa)
• Best Midfielder: Feisal Salum, Jean Ahoua, Pacome Zouzoua
• Best Defender: Dickson Job, Israel Mwenda (Azam), Antony Tra Bi (Singida Black Stars)
• Best Young Player: Anthony Mligo (formerly Namungo), Bakari Msimu (Coastal Union), Benno Ngassa (Tanzania Prisons)
• Best Stadium Manager: Ashraf Omar (JKT Tanzania), Godwin Israel (Tanzanite, Babati)
• Best Commissioner: Abousufian Silia, Zakayo Mjema, Zena Chande
• Best Team Discipline: Kagera Sugar, KMC, Namungo
Match officials’ set awards
Best officiating sets include matches featuring:
• Azam vs Yanga
• Singida Black Stars vs Yanga
• Azam vs Singida Black Stars
Top Scorer
Jean Charles Ahoua (Simba) – 16 goals
Other honours such as Goal of the Season, Team of the Season and Fair Play Award will be revealed on the awards night.
