Azam FC Academy
| Full name | Azam Football Club Academy | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Mgodi | |||
| Founded | 2008 | |||
| Coach | Mohammed Juma Badru | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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Azam Football Club Academy is the youth system of Azam Football Club based in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It is often referred to as Mgodi.
Azam F.C. Academy is one of Tanzania's most successful sports academies, winning three under 20 Premier League (Uhai Cup) titles together with one under 17 Premier League title and numerous invitational tournaments.
The academy is the primary youth clinic of Azam F.C. and the club depends heavily on this academy as they move promising youngsters from the youth teams to the senior team where they can showcase their talent and develop into stars.
Numerous Taifa Stars players have graduated from the academy and reserve teams. The academy manages a total of 5 youth teams (ages 7–18), under 10s, under 13s, under 15s, under 17s and under 20s.
History
In 2008, Tanzania's football governing body, TFF, made it mandatory for every premier league club to have a youth team that would compete in the inaugural season of under 20 premier league.
Fresh from promotion, Azam F.C. had no option but to start the youth team in the name of Azam FC Academy with only one age category, under 20.
Earlier that year, Tanzania's Copa Coca Cola team won the world Copa Coca Cola championship in Brazil. Azam F.C. grabbed six players from that team and brought them into the newly started academy.
These were the first players of the academy. The players were Jukumu Kibanda Joackim, Joseph Petro Mahundi, Faraji Hamad Hussein, Karim Sule Suleiman, Kabari Faraji Swaleh and Himid Mao Mkami.
Then came other players recruited from local youth tournaments and other youth teams. These were Bakari Mnenge 'Bukande', Tumba Lui, Mau Bofu, Heri Habib, Rajab Kaumbu (Goal keeper), Omary Msaki, Cosmas Lewis.
The selection of these players was conducted by the chief scout, Henry Chibakasa (Elli Mzozo) and the head coach, Itamar Amorin, from Brazil (previously worked as Tanzania's youth team national team head coach).
After assembling the squad, the technical bench geared up for the under 20 premier league later that year.
2008
The team participated in the inaugural under 20 premier league (Uhai Cup for sponsorship reasons) and won it unbeaten. They even beat 4-0 the Tanzania Sports Academy (TSA), that was run by TFF in collaboration with Bolton Wanderers of England.
Azam F.C. senior team was struggling and found themselves in danger of getting relegated. After a 3-0 defeat from Simba SC on March 30, 2009, the Brazilian coach Neidor dos Santos was fired and his compatriot Itamar Amorin, who was coaching the academy, was promoted to take the role of senior team.
He brought with him five players from the academy and gave them a debut in a 1-1 draw against Kagera Sugar on April 14, 2009.
The players were Himid Mao, Tumba Lui, Mau Bofu, Heri Habib and .
2009
The loss of the head coach and 5 key players to the senior team forced the academy to recruit another coach and players.
They first signed Sylvester Marsh, who coached the Copa Coca Cola team that won the world championship a year before. Then came another 5 new players; Ibrahim Jeba, Saimon Msuva, Rashid Mandawa, Samwel Mkomola, Ally Masoud and Mohamed Ibrahim.
To make sure that the team was gelling, the board of the club decided to take the team to Gothenburg, Sweden, to participate in Gothia Cup in July, where a total of 1226 from 64 nations worldwide participated in the tournament that lasted from July 9th to July 19th.
But before even the tournament kicked started, five players from Azam F.C. Academy defected. The players were Bakari Mnenge 'Bukande', Heri Habib, Yusuf Mkinda,
The experience and exposure that the team got there proved to be valuable as they came back home and defended the league title after beating Simba B 3-1 in the final.
Again the senior team came calling and took another 5 players.
These players were Sino Augustino, Mau Ali, Ali Mkuba and Samih Nuhu.
Daudi Mwasongo, Wandu Willium, Cosmas Lewis,
2010
In two years the academy lost 15 key players, but only five recruitments were made to replace the departed. This resulted in weakening the team hence they lost the Uhai Cup in 2010, crashing out in the group stage with two losses and one draw.
The need to start a new project came about and received a nod from the board. Plenty of new players mainly from Copa Coca Cola 2011 were signed. Aishi Manula, Braison Rafael, Gadiel Michael, Joseph Kimwaga, Mudathir Yahya, Mwalo Ilunga, Kelvin Friday, Kadedi Hamadi,
2011
The young recruited team made it all the way to the final of Uhai Cup 2011, losing to Simba B by 6-5 penalties. They also reached the final of Rollingstone tournament in Arusha, but lost 4-0 to Ruvu Shooting.
2012
This year Azam F.C. Academy made amends and went on to win the Uhai Cup after beating Coastal Union 3-1 by penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Joseph Kimwaga emerged as an MVP.
Players
Aishi Manula Joseph Kimwaga Abdul Mgaya Samwel Mkomola Adam Omary Mgaya Abdul Mohamed Hussein Zimbwe Jr.
Results
Azam F.C.Academy 3-2 Simba B -Joseph Kimwaga ⚽⚽ -Adam Omary ⚽
Quarter final December 18, 2012 Azam F.C. Academy 1-0 JKT Ruvu Stars
Semi final December 21, 2012 Azam F.C. Academy vs Mtibwa Sugar (pen 3-2)
final December 23, 2012 Azam F.C. Academy 2-2 Coastal Union (3-1)
2013
2013 Finalist of Rollingstone tournament
Azam FC Hakuna wapya, waliopandishwa toka Azam Academy ni Mudathir Yahya, Aishi Manula na Hamad Juma.
2014
2014 Winner Rollingstone tournament
2015
2017 Winner of Azam Youth Cup
2016
2017
2016/17 Finalist
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Under 17
Cosmas Lewis, Simon Msuva, Samwel Mkomola, Mohamed Hussein, Mohamed Ibrahim, Rashid Mandawa, Ibrahim Jeba,
Under 15
Under 13
Under 10
Current staff
Mohamed Badru [Head Coach]- John Yonatus Matambara [Assistant]
- Mwalo Hashim Ilunga [Goal Keeping Coach]
- Twalib Mbaraka [Team Doctor]
- Ernest Mtungujo [Kit Manager]
- Mbaraka Shaaban Jangama 'Cantona' [Assistant Kit Manager]
- Rashid Said Mgunya [Team Manager]
Abdihamd Moallin [Technical Director]
Current Under 20 players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Current Under 17 players
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Academy graduates
This is a list of former Azam F.C. academy graduates who have gone on to represent Tanzania at full international level. Players who are still at Azam F.C., or play at another club on loan from Azam F.C., are highlighted in bold.
Jukumu Kibanda Joackim, Joseph Petro Mahundi, Faraji Hamad Hussein, Karim Sule Suleiman, Kabari Faraji Swaleh, Himid Mao Mkami, Mudathir Yahya, Aishi Manula na Hamad Juma, Tumba Lui, Mau Bofu, Heri Habib, Cosmas Lewis, Saimon Msuva, Samwel Mkomola, Mohamed Hussein Zimbwe Jr., Mohamed Ibrahim, Rashid Mandawa, Ibrahim Jeba, Joseph Kimwaga, Mgaya Abdul Jaffary Mnyamani, Samwel Mkomola, Adam Omary, Sino Augustino, Mau Ali, Ali Mkuba, Samih Nuhu, Daudi Mwasongo, Wandu Willium, Cosmas Lewis,
References
- ↑ "Azam FC eye another milestone". 28 April 2021.
- ↑ "Azam Academy Watwaa Ubingwa Wa Ligi y U17".Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ https://allafrica.com/stories/200911181024.html
- ↑ https://allafrica.com/stories/201012310550.html
- ↑ https://allafrica.com/stories/201101040694.html
External links
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