Dar es Salaam – Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions Young Africans SC (Yanga) have confirmed that their prolific striker, Clement Mzize, will not be leaving the club this season. Instead, he has signed a one-year extension, ensuring he remains at Jangwani for at least two more seasons.
This announcement ends weeks of speculation regarding Mzize’s future, as he had been strongly linked with moves abroad. Clubs in North Africa and the Middle East had expressed serious interest in acquiring his services. However, Yanga’s management decided to secure the player’s stay by extending his contract and improving his financial terms.
Among the interested parties, Tunisian giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis were the most serious contenders. The club, a four-time African Champions League winner, reportedly agreed to pay Yanga a transfer fee of US$1 million (approximately TSh2.6 billion). Their bid was slightly higher than that of Qatari side Umm Salal SC, who had previously offered US$900,000 (around TSh2.2 billion) along with a lucrative monthly salary of US$20,000 (about TSh50 million) for the player.
Clement Mzize celebrating after scoring a goal for Taifa Stars
For Yanga, the Esperance offer met expectations, and the club was prepared to release Mzize. However, negotiations collapsed dramatically at the final stage when Esperance unexpectedly withdrew their proposal. This sudden turn of events left Yanga with little time to act, but the management responded swiftly by renewing Mzize’s contract for an additional year.
A source within the club revealed that the decision was aimed not only at securing the player’s services but also at maintaining stability within the squad ahead of the new season. “We have decided to extend his deal so that he stays with us for two more seasons,” said the source. “Esperance canceled the deal at the last minute, so we moved quickly to keep him and improved his salary. Mzize is still with Yanga and is not going anywhere.”
The retention of Mzize is a significant boost for Yanga’s head coach Romain Folz, who is preparing his squad for another demanding season both domestically and on the continental stage. Folz, who has been instrumental in reshaping the squad’s style of play, will continue to rely on Mzize’s attacking prowess to drive the team forward.
The coach has consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining the club’s core players, and Mzize’s contract extension aligns perfectly with that vision. Mzize has played a vital role in Yanga’s recent dominance in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League. His ability to score decisive goals, coupled with his pace and composure in front of goal, has made him a fan favorite.
Clement Mzize receive Man of the match award during CHAN2024 at Banjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania
For Folz, keeping Mzize ensures continuity in the team’s attack and strengthens their ambitions to defend their league title while also making a deeper run in the CAF Champions League.
For Yanga supporters, this news brings relief and renewed optimism. The uncertainty surrounding the striker’s future had caused concern, especially with enticing offers from financially powerful clubs abroad. However, the decision to extend his stay signals Yanga’s determination to hold onto their best talent and compete at the highest level.
Ultimately, what initially appeared to be a likely departure has turned into a clear statement of intent from Yanga. With Mzize committed for two more seasons and Romain Folz at the helm, the Jangwani giants are sending a strong message: they are ready to dominate domestically and seriously challenge on the African stage.
