IN a change of plans, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) will be hosting its annual awards ceremony during the Community Shield game, a departure from the previous tradition of holding it three days after the Federation Cup final.

This change promises a new atmosphere for celebrating the season’s top performers.

The decision, communicated by the TFF, aims to enhance the event’s significance by aligning it with the kickoff of the new 2024/2025 season. 

The awards ceremony serves as a platform to recognize the exceptional achievements of athletes across various competitions organized by the federation and the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB), as well as other official football events nationwide.

Scheduled during the inaugural match of the new season, the celebration will witness the clash between reigning Premier League champions, Young Africans, and the victor of the Federation Cup. 

However, Young Africans’ participation in the FA final adds a twist, potentially pitting them against Azam FC, with both teams set to compete tomorrow at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

Young Africans’ and Azam’s advancement to the final underscores their prowess, as they clinched the top two finish places in the Premier League standings, which officially concluded on May 28. Consequently, their showdown in the Community Shield appears inevitable, despite initial plans conflicting with the Premier League’s rule regarding trophy presentations.

Traditionally, the Premier League mandates awards ceremonies to occur three days after the Federation Cup final. Hence, the originally slated date for the TFF awards was June 5, following the FA final clash between Young Africans and Azam.

This season of the Premier League has been a goal-fest, with several players vying for top honors at the upcoming TFF awards ceremony.

Young Africans’ Stephane Aziz Ki is the clear favorite for Player of the Season, having notched an impressive 21 goals and nine assists. This puts him comfortably ahead of Feisal Salum, who managed 19 goals. 

Aziz Ki’s contributions have been instrumental in propelling Young Africans’ Premier League title.

The battle for Best Defender is shaping up to be a tight race. Young Africans’ Ibrahim Hamad (Bacca) has been a rock at the back, while Lameck Lawi of Coastal Union has helped his team concede the second-fewest goals in the league (18). Both players have strong cases for the coveted award.

Ley Matampi has secured the Golden Gloves award for most clean sheets (15), surpassing Young Africans’ Djigui Diarra with 14. This solidifies Matampi’s status as a top goalkeeper in the league.

With exceptional individual performances across the league, the team of the season selection promises to be a hotly contested affair. The upcoming TFF awards ceremony is sure to be a night to remember, celebrating the best talent the Tanzanian Premier League has to offer.

Reflecting on the previous season, Young Africans dominated the awards, securing a total of 12 accolades, including individual honors and recognition as the best team. Standout performances by players like Fiston Mayele, Djigui Diarra, and Dickson Job earned them coveted titles such as top scorer, best goalkeeper, and best defender, respectively.

Simba, the second-ranked team, also clinched numerous awards, with Saido Ntibazonkiza leading the charge as the top scorer and recipient of the Fair Play award. Notable mentions include Henock Inonga, Mohammed Hussein, and Shomari Kapombe, all earning spots in the season’s best team.

Acknowledging excellence beyond the pitch, awards were also presented to outstanding referees and officials. Ester Adalbert and Jonesia Rukyaa were recognized as the best referees for the Women’s Premier League and Premier League, respectively, while Ally Ally and Winfrida Charles received accolades for their contributions as best coach and best player in the women’s category.