The government wants football talent emerging from local competitions to secure opportunities with clubs abroad, saying exporting players could help build professional careers and bring foreign exchange into Tanzania.
National Sports Council (BMT) Senior Sports Officer Charles Maguzu said the focus should not end with identifying young talent but should include creating pathways for promising players to compete at international level.
Speaking at the launch of the third season of the Safari Lager Cup at KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam on Monday night, Mr Maguzu said players emerging from the competition should be developed to meet international standards and compete both locally and abroad.
“The goal is not just to identify talent, but to ensure the players we discover get opportunities to play outside Tanzania,” he said.
He said some players who had gone through the programme in previous seasons had secured places in major clubs participating in international competitions, describing this as an indication of the potential of youth football development programmes.
Mr Maguzu also commended Yanga and Safari Lager for sustaining the initiative, which has now entered its third season, saying such programmes could provide a pathway for young players who might otherwise struggle to gain exposure.
He urged the media to continue highlighting the competition and the players emerging from it, saying greater visibility could help expose Tanzanian talent to clubs and football stakeholders beyond the country.
Yanga Director of Competitions Ibrahim Mohammed said the club had increased its investment in youth development, with four players currently in the Tanzania Under-20 team, two in the Under-23 side and about five in the senior national team, Taifa Stars.
“Investing in youth is the foundation of everything you see today. These are not Yanga’s achievements alone, but achievements for the nation as a whole,” he said.
Mr Mohammed said Yanga had also introduced technology and a player database to strengthen its talent identification system.
He said scouts consider factors including discipline, experience, ball control and a player’s movement and decision-making when they do not have possession before recommending players for technical assessment.
Meanwhile, TBL Brand Manager Pamela Kikuli said this year’s Safari Lager Cup would conduct player registration in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Arusha.
Registration will be free for players aged 18 to 23 who compete as members of teams.
Ms Kikuli said the tournament had introduced a new opportunity this season, with one outstanding player set to earn direct trials with Yanga.
Selected players will also attend a training camp where they will receive football coaching alongside lessons on financial management and personal branding.
She said the partnership with Yanga was intended to expose young players to professional coaching and increase their chances of pursuing football careers in Tanzania and international markets.