Azam F.C.

Azam FC, started as Mzizima FC on 23 July 2004. The club was founded by the workers of Mzizima wheat flour milling industry owned by Said Salim Bakhresa,(SSB) group of Companies, at Banda la Ngozi, Nyerere Road, Ilala, Dar es Salaam.

Mzizima FC was a brainchild of Hafidh Salim (who became the first Chairperson), Ali Mlungula, Seif Mshamu Kiwile, Athuman Kikila, Mohamed Saad Makununi, Mzee Chuli Ramadhan, and Babu Ayubu. Then they were joined by Abubakar Mapwisa, Seleman Mabehewa, Twalib Suleiman Chuma, Mohamed Seif 'King', Nassor Idrisa 'Father', Ibrahim Jeshi and Abdallah Hassan. They started this team just for recreation and leisure after the long working hours, so as to improve their social life, health and well-being.

They didn't have a place as their training ground thus they approached the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRC) to allow them use their open space at Ilala Goods Shed. TRC gave them a nod and the work of leveling the ground started immediately.

After the ground was ready, they dubbed it, 'Surulele', after the legendary National Stadium, Lagos Nigeria where the Taifa Stars played in at the 1980 African Cup of Nations.

The ground allowed the players, who were the workers, to showcase their talents. The very first players are Nassor Idrisa, Salum Kakolo, Mjomba Akili, Salva Mayola, Ali Dosho, Gabriel Sebastian Manyoronga, Mohamed Kikuni, Tebela, Zabron Mihangi, Salehe Hillary, Mussa Lumbi, Hatibu Katoto, Amiri Rashid Kikwa, Hamis Jafar, Ibrahim Jaluo, Abbas Kuka, Mbaraka Shaaban Jangama 'Cantona', Abdulkarim Amin 'Popat', Hassan Jeba, Said Nachikongo, Mussa Juma, Faraj Ismail, Mazaila Athuman and James Adriano Kilongola.

After only playing friendly matches, in 2005, Mzizima FC participated in official league after joining division four. This was the lowest official league in Tanzanian football pyramid, and organized by the respective districts' football associations. Based in Ilala district of Dar es Salaam, Mzizima FC joined the Ilala District League under Ilala District Football Association, which was played in May, from 1st to 28th, at Benjamin Mkapa Secondary School ground, Ilala, Dar es Salaam.

Mzizima FC made it to the final and saw off Ndanda FC of Misheni Kota, Kariakoo Dar es Salaam by 2–1, with the brace from Mussa Lumbi in front of Honourable Mussa Hassan Mussa, the Ilala Member of Parliament.

Mr. Abubabar Bakhresa, the Managing Director of SSB, awarded the team a sum of 330,000/= for winning the championship.

The win meant Mzizima FC was automatically promoted to Dar es Salaam regional league (division three) for the 2006 season.

Other SSB owned industries had their own football teams too, and in 2005 they agreed to merger with Mzizima SC to form one strong team following the suggestion from Mr. Abubabar Bakhresa, the Managing Director of SSB. The teams were Kipawa [Biscuits & Bakery Industry], TAZARA - Buguruni [Wheat Flour Milling & Mineral Water Industry] and Vingunguti [Omary Packaging & Garage].

They decided to organize the tournament involving all these teams to help select the players to form one new team. The tournament was played at Airwing ground in Ukonga. Mzizima FC and Kipawa FC qualified for the final but the match was interrupted as Kipawa confronted the officiating.

After the disputed tournament, every team maintained its status but later some players defected from other teams to join Mzizima FC to honour the call of Mr. Abubakar Bakhresa. Some of them were Luckson Kakolaki and Id Abubakary of Kipawa. This led to the strengthening of Mzizima SC and weakening of other teams, and lately they swallowed their pride and agreed to merger with Mzizima FC to form one team.

On 28/10/2005, the newly formed team adopted the new name, Azam Sports Club, because Azam is the flagship name for the SSB group of companies.

After winning the Ilala District Championship (division four) in 2005, Azam SC was automatically promoted to the Dar es Salaam regional league (division three). But the regional league proved to be a bit tough for Azam SC players who were workers from within the company.

The need to improve the team forced the recruitment of new players from outside the company. The new players helped the team to win promotion to second division for 2007 season. But that was the beginning of the new era because the club now started to pay wages to the players only for playing football, thus the professionalization of the club.

On June 6, 2006, Azam Sports Club turned full professional and marked the evolution by dropping 'Sports Club' from its name, and replaced it with 'Football Club'. From that day on, the official name of the club is Azam Football Club.

The players recruited for 2007 season were Seleman Matola, Shekhan Rashid, Kasimu Kilungo, Juma Assey, Daud Jumanne, James Adrian, Makame Usi 'Vigema', Boniface Pawasa, Heri pazi, and Alimu Chilumbe. Others were Kamba Luffo and Steven Nyenge.

These were the players who had vast experience of local and international football and improved the team.

In April 2006, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) announced that from 2007 they will change the league system and calendar. The old calendar of January - December was to be replaced by the new one of August - May. So to get the representatives in African competitions for 2007 (as CAF still used February - November calendar), TFF organized what they called the LIGI NDOGO (mini league).

Also all other leagues below premier league to be disbanded and replaced by new competition called National League. This competition was to start from district level to the national level in the same season. National level is where the promotion to the premier league was obtained. Under this new format, the team could be formed the same season and got promoted to the premier league in the same season.

So when the new season started, Azam FC which at the time was in division two, had to drop to district level to participate in this new competition. They started from Ilala District and in one of their matches they played against Cosmopolitan and lost 2–0, at Benjamin Mkapa Secondary School ground. All goals were scored by the 17 year old, John Bocco.

Azam FC who eventually managed to qualify for regional level, signed John Bocco and enrolled him for the rest of the season. They too signed a 16 year old Salum Abubakary 'Sure Boy'.

Azam FC triumphantly made it all the way to National level for promotion playoffs. There were two centers for playoffs, Dodoma and Musoma, and Azam FC was in Dodoma.

Their group included Mbagala Market, the team which had a 17 year old in Mbwana Samatta, Majimaji FC and Kijiweni FC from Uyole Mbeya. The match against Mbagala Market which ended in a stalemate was very intense and a reminder of the two previous encounters at regional, all ended in a draw.

This is where the rivalry between Azam FC and Mbagala Market started. Mbagala Market, now African Lyon, is the first team to beat Azam FC at Azam Complex Chamazi.

Azam FC was promoted after accumulating 7 points from two wins (3–0 against Kijiweni and 2–0 against Majimaji) and one draw (0-0 against Mbagala Market).

The promotion was officially sealed on July 27, 2008, after a comfortable 2–0 win over Majimaji FC with free kick goals from John Bocco.

Since promotion, Azam FC have managed to finish in top three in all seasons, except 2008/09 [eighth] and 2016/17 [fourth].

As of 29 August 2022

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  GHA Abdulai Iddrisu 2 MF  GHA James Akaminko 3 DF  GHA Daniel Amoah 5 DF  TAN Lusajo Elikaga Mwaikenda 6 AM  TAN Feisal Salum Abdallah 7 MF  TAN Ayoub Lyanga 9 MF  TAN Abdul Hamis Suleiman Sopu 10 LW  CIV Kipre Junior 11 CF  SEN Allasane Diao 12 DF  TAN Pascal Gaudence Msindo 14 LB  SEN Cheikh Sidibe 28 GK  TAN Zuberi Foba 17 MF  TAN Sospeter Israel Bajana 18 DF  TAN Edward Charles Manyama

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 MF  GAM Gibril Sillah 20 MF  TAN Nathan Chilambo 21 MF  TAN Yahya Zayd Omary 4 MF  COD Yannick Bangala 23 MF  TAN Iddy Suleiman 'Nado' 24 CF  COD Idris Ilunga Mbombo 25 DF  TAN Abdallah Kheri 'Sebo' 27 DF  SEN Pape Ndoye 29 FW  ZIM Prince Mpumelelo Dube 30 GK  COM Ali Ahamada

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  TAN Samwel Jackson Onditi [Geita Gold FC] — DF  TAN Laurent Alfred [Kagera Sugar FC] — DF  TAN Samwel Amos Ndumieni[Transit Camp FC] — DF  TAN Wilbert John Mkimbu[Ken Gold] — FW  TAN Andrew Simchimba[Ihefu FC]

Further information: Azam FC Academy

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 35 GK  TAN Anthony Remmy Mpemba 48 GK  TAN Bravo Bakari Mohamed 32 GK  TAN Hamisi Yasin Athumani 54 DF  TAN Phales Emanuel Mkude 51 DF  TAN Abdulkarim Kassim Kiswanya 31 DF  TAN Timotheo Aboubakary Timotheo 53 MF  TAN Ally Mohammed Salum 39 MF  TAN Geroge Stephane Chande 60 MF  TAN Jamal Saleh Ally 'Jaku' 44 FW  TAN Kassim Suleiman Mikidadi 65 FW  TAN Ismail Yusuf Rashid 47 FW  TAN Gaby Joseph Fundumo 50 FW  TAN Ashraf Shaban Kibeku 55 FW  TAN Ally Hassan Ally 42 FW  TAN George William Mhilu 41 FW  TAN Vellim Nashon Opondo 52 FW  TAN David Crispin Chiwalanga 59 FW  TAN Clement Richard Kabela 37 FW  TAN Abdulrazaq Salum Athuman 58 FW  TAN Cyprian Thobias Kachwele 49 FW  TAN Tariq Mohammed Mohammed 46 FW  TAN Ally Hamis Muhaza 56 FW  TAN Abdillah Ussy Iddy 36 FW  TAN Hassan Kassim Hassan 67 FW  TAN Fadhili Ally Baluba

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 68 GK  TAN Ramadhan Salum Mzenga 88 GK  TAN Idd Salim 75 GK  TAN Ally Hassan Abdullah 84 DF  TAN Phares Emmanuel 62 DF  TAN Thabiti Thabiti Majandilu 85 DF  TAN Ashraf Shaaban Kibeku 63 MF  TAN Ramadhan Yassin 61 MF  TAN Arafati Masoud 67 MF  TAN Gaby Joseph Phundumo 66 FW  TAN Abdulkarim Khasim 64 FW  TAN Ally Mohamed 70 FW  TAN David Chiwalango 72 FW  TAN Daud Said 77 FW  TAN Cyprian Kachwelo 82 FW  TAN Daniel Ndalo Kamoga 74 FW  TAN Amos Nada 80 FW  TAN Feisal Hawani 79 FW  TAN Tariq Mohamed 78 FW  TAN Anthony Remmy