Malota Soma

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Malota Soma

Personal information
Date of birth	1960 or 1961
Playing position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1977	Jogoo FC
1978	Reli Morogoro
1979–1980	Tumbaku Morogoro
1981–1991	Simba
1991–1993	Sohari FC
1993–1996	Simba
1997–1999	Tanzania Stars
National team
1979	Tanzania (youth)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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Malota Soma, nicknamed "Ball Juggler", (born 1960 or 1961) is a Tanzanian former footballer who played as a forward. He is best known for his two spells with Simba S.C., and was a member of the side that reached the final of the 1993 CAF Cup. He also played professionally in Oman and ended his playing career with Tanzania Stars in 1999.

Club career

Early career

Soma began playing organised football in Morogoro in 1977, joining second-division side Jogoo FC after completing primary school. He moved to fellow Morogoro club Reli in 1978, where his teammates included Zamoyoni Mogella, before joining Tumbaku Morogoro in 1979.

Soma spent two seasons with Tumbaku. In later interviews he recalled that his performances there led to interest from Simba, particularly following the move of his Tumbaku teammate Mogella to the Dar es Salaam club.

Simba

Soma joined Simba at the beginning of the 1980s. A 2014 interview with Soma and an earlier biographical account date the move to 1981, although another later interview gave 1980 as the year in which he arrived at the club.

His transfer was initially the subject of a registration dispute. The Football Association of Tanzania ordered Soma and fellow Tumbaku player Thobias Nkoma to remain registered with Tumbaku after their transfer paperwork was not completed in time. The pair nevertheless remained with Simba and were initially restricted to appearing in friendly matches.

Soma became a regular member of Simba's attack during the 1980s, playing alongside forwards including Mogella, Edward Chumila and Sunday Juma. He later identified Simba's team of approximately 1981 to 1984 as the strongest side he played in during his career.

In the 1985 African Cup Winners' Cup, Soma played in Simba's 2–1 home victory over Egyptian club Al Ahly in Mwanza, providing the pass for Zamoyoni Mogella's opening goal. Al Ahly nevertheless progressed 3–2 on aggregate.

Soma also scored in several Simba–Young Africans derbies. On 23 August 1986 he scored Simba's second goal in a 2–1 win over Young Africans, and he scored again against their rivals in a 2–1 defeat on 28 January 1989.

Oman and return to Simba

After ten seasons with Simba, Soma moved to Oman in 1991 to play professionally for a first-division club identified in Tanzanian sources as Sohari FC. He spent two years in Oman before returning to Simba in 1993. Soma also recalled playing professional football in Oman before beginning his second spell with Simba.

Following his return, Soma was part of the Simba squad that reached the final of the 1993 CAF Cup. Simba defeated Manzini Wanderers, USM El Harrach and AS Aviação on their way to the final before facing Stella Club d'Adjamé of Ivory Coast. Simba drew the first leg in Abidjan 0–0 but lost the return leg in Dar es Salaam 2–0. Soma later said that disruption in Simba's preparations and training camp had negatively affected the team before the second leg.

He remained with Simba through the mid-1990s. Soma later said that when he finished his time with the club in 1995 his monthly salary had risen from the 200 Tanzanian shillings he received when he first joined to 3,000 shillings.

Tanzania Stars and retirement

In 1997, Soma joined Tanzania Stars, a club composed largely of veteran former leading players. He remained with the club until retiring from competitive football in 1999. Soma said that he retired in order to give younger players greater opportunities to develop.

International career

While playing for Tumbaku Morogoro in 1979, Soma was selected for the Tanzania youth national team coached by Mohamed Msomali. His teammates included Abdul Amasha, Hussein Iddi, Thobias Nkoma, Zamoyoni Mogella, Ayoub Mzee, Sospeter Mwaluko and Juma Kiruzeruze.

Soma later recalled travelling to Norway with the national youth side before his move to Simba.

In 1981, he was also selected for the Dar es Salaam regional representative side Mzizima United, which won that year's Taifa Cup.

Style of play

Soma was primarily an attacking player and was capable of playing across the forward line, including as a centre-forward, supporting forward and on either wing. He became known by the nickname "Ball Juggler" because of his dribbling ability, close control and tendency to take on opposing defenders.

He later credited his success to natural ability, discipline and his understanding with attacking teammates such as Zamoyoni Mogella and Edward Chumila.

Later life

Following his retirement from football, Soma became self-employed. He has worked in the transport business, including operating taxis and later driving a school bus in Dar es Salaam.

Honours

Simba

• Tanzanian championship: 1993, 1994, 1995
• CECAFA Club Championship: 1995
• CAF Cup runner-up: 1993

Tanzania Stars

• Nyerere Cup: 1997, 1998
• FAT Cup: 1997, 1998

References

This article "Malota Soma" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Malota Soma. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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