YOUNG Africans President Hersi Said has confirmed that the club turned down an offer from Wydad Casablanca for their star striker Clement Mzize during the off-season, underscoring the player's importance to their ongoing project.

Mzize (pictured), who emerged as the top scorer in last season's Federation Cup with five goals, has been instrumental for both Young Africans and the Tanzania national team under coach Hemed Suleiman. His impressive performances have solidified his position as a key player, showcasing his versatility on the wings and his goal-scoring prowess.

Wydad Casablanca initially offered $100,000 for the 20-year-old striker, with reports indicating they were willing to increase their bid to $400,000. However, Young Africans decided to retain Mzize, emphasizing his significance to the club's future ambitions.

President Said revealed that Wydad Casablanca head coach Rulani Mokwena personally contacted him while the Jangwani-based side was in South Africa for a pre-season match against TS Galaxy to discuss Mzize’s potential transfer.

The club believes Mzize's value will increase significantly over the next two seasons, potentially reaching $1,000,000. 

Said expressed confidence in Mzize’s development, stating: "Mzize, a current Tanzania national team member, possesses the potential to become Tanzania's talisman at the 2027 AFCON. We're dedicated to honing his skills, and his progress is evident daily.

"As a club, we want him to be ready to break straight into the starting eleven when he eventually moves to another team. Recently, he has scored in back-to-back games, which is the kind of progress we want to see from him.

"We also have offers for other players, but we cannot be a selling club. We want to compete in Africa, and that’s why we cannot let our players leave while we have a project to fulfill," Said added.

A product of the Young Africans youth academy, Mzize has been a valuable member of the senior team for three seasons. His introduction to the first team came under coach Nasreddine Nabi, who recognized his potential early on.

This season, Mzize has continued to impress, scoring twice in three matches, including a crucial goal against Azam FC in the Community Shield final and another against Vital'O FC in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.