Soccer followers showing no concern over Mkude's absence - II

This happens in big clubs in the country where domestic football enthusiasts believe domestic players can mature well and represent the nation because the prominent outfits are battling it out in many international matches.

Mohamed Hussein, Shomari Kapombe, Yassin, and Aishi Manula continue to fight for their positions at Simba SC but, even if these players come to the end of their careers, I hardly see natives that will fill their positions in the squad.

Simba SC cannot rope in a goalie from Prisons and immediately start relying on the keeper while its age-old rival, Yanga, has such a gifted goalkeeper like Malian Djigui Diarra. Simba SC will search for a foreign goalie.

Sometimes a football lover can hardly blame these two teams' leaders. There have always been extremely few talented domestic footballers that are showing commitment.

The worst part of it is that even those who are given a chance have been letting domestic soccer fans down.

The supporters should, for instance, look at how Habib Kyombo has lost his chance to Congolese, Jean Baleke, at Simba SC. 

If Kyombo was scoring goals like Baleke, it would have been important for the nation.

In this season’s African inter-club tournaments’ Group Stage, so far two natives, Yanga’s Mudathir Yahya and Farid Mussa, have scored goals.

On Simba SC's side, there have been assists executed by fullback, Shomari Kapombe, and midfielder Mzamiru Yassin.

All other goals, as well as assists, have come from foreign footballers who have continued to be careful when wearing Simba SC and Yanga jerseys.

Sometimes when players like Mkude are not playing and fail to prove their worth, it is a loss for the nation.

Tanzania relies more on the players who play locally because they are the majority of players making the senior national team.

When a soccer fan witnesses the domestic players begin sitting on the bench in their clubs, such a football follower knows that Taifa Stars are at a loss.

An individual ought to look at a player like Yahya, he has been out for a long time and, when he signed for Yanga during the January registration period, he was immediately given chance to feature for the club in this season's CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage matches.

He has done well in the club and is now in the senior national team and is a regular in Taifa Stars, this has been brought about due to a lack of talent.

It is however also an advantage for a performer to get a place in the team participating in any of the continental tournaments.

Soccer lovers cannot interfere in the players' private lives but, from a football point of view, I wish domestic players and fans would have time to analyze the losses that occur to a player like Mkude if he fails to hit the mark.

The people around him also do not know the best way they can advise him. Mkude still has what it takes to play football at a high level for a long time.

If he is running his personal life carelessly, I think he should correct himself.

When Mkude is at his best, there is no midfielder to bench him at Simba SC. 

However, his fate is in his hands, the rest of the domestic football followers are just ordinary consultants.

Why has Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama continued to maintain his form? There were times when Mkude was as reliable at Simba SC as Chama, Louis Miquissone, Manula, and others.

Why should Mkude lose his place on the side while his colleagues continue to be the heart of the team?

If a football supporter wants to see Tanzania enjoy success in the game, such an aficionado should crave for domestic players to be at their best at Simba SC, Yanga, Azam FC, and other clubs.

Yanga’s midfielder Feisal Salum has also gone on strike, seeking to leave his club.

In the middle of this season, he started a contract dispute, the results of which were seen when Salum was called-up for Taifa Stars and was fielded in its 2023 AFCON Qualifiers' ties against Uganda, the midfielder failed to prove his worth for Taifa Stars.

Domestic players are fighting for their positions at Azam FC. Azam FC's Ayoub Lyanga and Abdulhamis Suleiman 'Sopu', for example, have recently started making an important contribution to the Taifa Stars squad.

If Azam FC had taken part in more CAF Confederation Cup matches this season, I think the outfit would have improved but, unfortunately, it was eliminated early on.

Another issue that Mkude should be reminded of is how difficult life would be for a player, who used to play for either Simba SC or Yanga for a long time, once he moves to any of the other outfits at the domestic level.

Suddenly the fans forget such a player, the footballer will begin taking long bus journeys when his team travels for various fixtures, and he will further start staying in cheap hotels booked by his outfit.

West African players plying their trade in Tanzania would take this as a challenge to continue to stay fit and play at a high level for a long time.

Mkude has the potential to play for a long time if he decides to value professionalism.