AZAM FC have expressed their satisfaction after multiple players were nominated for the upcoming 2023/2024 Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Awards, scheduled for August 1 in Dar es Salaam.

The club will have three players competing for different accolades, while their coach, Bruno Ferry, is in the running for Coach of the Year alongside Young Africans’ gaffer Miguel Gamondi and David Ouma of Coastal Union, who guided his side to a fourth-place finish.

Azam finished as runners-up in the previous season, narrowly securing 66 points ahead of Simba SC, who missed out due to goal difference. Their strong performance earned them a spot in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, where they will face APR of Rwanda.

Goalkeeper Mohamed Mustafa is among the nominees for the Federation Cup's Best Keeper Award, competing against Young Africans’ Djigui Diarra and former Ihefu SC custodian Khomeini Abubakar, who has since joined Young Africans.

Azam will have two representatives in the running for the Federation Cup Player of the Year Award. Feisal Salum and Kipre Junior Zunon (now with USM Alger) will be competing against a strong field that includes Young Africans’ Stephanie Aziz Ki, Clement Mzize, Ibrahim Hamad (Bacca), and Diarra.

In the highly competitive Premier League Player of the Year category, Azam's Feisal Salum and Kipre Junior Zunon will face off against Young Africans’ Diarra, Aziz Ki, Koussia Yao, and ‘Bacca’ Hamad, Simba’s Mohamed Hussein, as well as Coastal Union's Ley Matampi.

Salum is a strong contender for the Midfielder of the Year Award after a stellar season that saw him net 19 goals. His former teammate, Kipre Junior, who contributed nine goals and nine assists for the Ice Cream Makers last season, is also in the running. The duo will face stiff competition from Young Africans' Aziz Ki, who impressed with 21 goals and eight assists.

Azam FC spokesperson Hashim Ibwe expressed the club's delight at seeing multiple players recognized for their outstanding performances. He emphasized that these nominations are a testament to the team's overall success in the previous season.

"We're incredibly proud to have multiple club representatives nominated for this year's awards. Our players have demonstrated exceptional talent, culminating in Kipre Junior's well-deserved transfer to USM Algiers. Feisal Salum's impressive goal-scoring record in his debut season for our club is further testament to our club's progress. Moreover, coach Bruno Ferry's nomination for Coach of the Year is a reflection of our team's overall growth and ambition for the upcoming season," said Ibwe.

Salum has credited his teammates and coaching staff for his outstanding performance last season. "I'm honored to be nominated for these awards. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my fellow players and the coaching staff for their unwavering support and guidance throughout the season. I couldn't have achieved this without them," he said.

The fierce competition for the league MVP and Best Midfielder titles between Salum and Aziz Ki has now been left in the hands of the voters. 

"It was a fantastic season for the entire team. We all contributed significantly to our success. I'll leave it to the voters to decide who deserves the winners," he added.

While individual accolades are on the line, Azam remain focused on team building and preparation for the upcoming season. The club has no plans to reward players for their nominations at this time as they put more emphasis on their pre-season preparations.

Azam are currently putting the final touches on their preseason preparations in Benslimane, Morocco. The Tanzanian envoys will face Union Touarga on August 27 in a friendly match before returning home. 

Their Moroccan tour will conclude with a high-profile clash against Wydad Casablanca on August 29. The team will conclude their preseason with a match against Rayon Sports FC on August 3 at the King Pele Stadium.

The Community Shield tournament kicks off on August 8, with Azam facing Coastal Union in the semifinal at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar. 

Following the Community Shield, Azam will lock horns with Rwandan champions Rayon Sports in a two-legged tie of the CAF Champions League, with the first leg to be held at Azam Complex on August 16 and the return leg at Amahoro National Stadium. 

The winners of this clash will face the victors of Zanzibar’s JKU vs. Egypt’s Pyramids FC match.

Under the guidance of coach Youssouph Dabo, who is currently pursuing his CAF Diploma A coaching license at the TFF training center in Mnyanjani, Tanga, Azam aim to surpass last season's achievements.