Football—soka, kabumbu, kandanda, or boli—is one of the most familiar words across hangouts and social spaces in Tanzania. All these terms refer to the same thing: the game of football, which may very well be the most popular sport globally today.
With the exception of Tanzania, the sport’s popularity varies from place to place depending on the dominance of other sports, though football still remains among the top three most popular and beloved sports worldwide.
According to historical accounts and numerous publications, football has existed since the 15th century and has undergone continuous reform to achieve its modern structure. It has become a rare commodity that unites societies around the world by offering entertainment and stimulating economic development.
As in other parts of the world, football in Tanzania has a long history dating back to the colonial era. Historical records show that the sport often served as a social tool, bringing people together to discuss anti-colonial movements during sports gatherings, including football events.
Football in Tanzania was first introduced by English Christian missionaries from the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) at their sports school in Kiungani, Zanzibar, in the 1920s. It was spread by graduates of the UMCA school, leading to the establishment of the first football association—Association Football League—in 1921, which was formally registered in 1932.
Over time, global reforms in football have led to the development of rules and governance systems overseen by FIFA, which works in tandem with continental and national football institutions to regulate how the game is administered.
League Administration
One of the major global reforms involves the organization and management of football competitions or leagues. In developed footballing nations, strict rules and criteria govern club revenues and expenditures to minimize—or eliminate—the infiltration of “dirty money” into football.
The intention is to protect the sport from becoming a refuge for illegal business activities while ensuring a level financial playing field among competing teams.
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The English Premier League stands as a prime example of how strong governance can improve the management of football. It has become one of Europe’s top leagues thanks to massive investment in infrastructure, commercial broadcasting, and high-quality players.
This quality is supported by a solid framework of management guided by regulations from UEFA, to which the English FA belongs.
Among these regulations are the Profit and Sustainability Rules, designed to ensure clubs do not spend more than they earn. They also set a cap on allowable losses to safeguard long-term financial sustainability.
In other words, the English Premier League upholds the philosophy that every farmer eats what they sow—each club must operate within its financial means. This model promotes financial integrity, accountability, and prevents chronic financial instability from becoming normal in football.
The Situation in Tanzania
In recent years, Tanzanian football has made notable progress. This includes the establishment of different leagues at regional and national levels—such as the Premier League, First Division, Second Division—and competitions for both men and women.
These developments have improved the overall quality of football, infrastructure investment, sponsorship, and revenue generation, all signaling growth in the sport.
In terms of quality, the Tanzania Premier League has risen significantly in continental rankings. According to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Tanzania currently ranks fourth in Africa, behind Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.
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This means that aside from these nations, no other African league surpasses Tanzania’s Premier League in quality. Economically, the league has attracted major investors and sponsors.
A notable example is Azam TV, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights for TV and radio, as well as the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), the league’s title sponsor.
Clubs have also benefited from private sponsorship deals as companies invest financially to gain commercial advantage and promote their brands.
As a result, the Tanzania Premier League has become one of the most attractive platforms for sports advertising and investment in East and Central Africa.
Flaws to Address
As the Swahili saying goes, where there is good, there will always be some bad. Despite major strides, certain issues continue to cast shadows over football’s development.
For instance, club ownership structures vary widely—some are owned by individuals or private companies, others by government institutions like the military or local authorities, and some are believed to be member-owned, though portions of ownership lie with investors.
There have been instances where club ownership has been changed abruptly without clear public disclosure about the transfer process.
Political influence in club ownership also raises questions about decision-making fairness, especially concerning football governance.
To this day, it is not unusual to struggle to obtain reliable information about a club’s leadership, ownership, revenue sources, and expenditures. It is also not uncommon for clubs to change names or ownership without transparency about the process.
A few years ago, a lower-division club was relegated for match-fixing. However, the owners later abandoned it, bought another club, gave it the same name, and carried on as if nothing had happened.
If we truly intend to continue developing our football to match its fourth-place African ranking, then we must eliminate chaotic club ownership and strengthen financial discipline.
Accountability
Premier League clubs and others nationwide must publicly disclose their revenues and expenditures to comply with the law and maintain transparency for members who fund them through membership fees.
These efforts must go hand-in-hand with accountability from regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing the establishment, operation, acquisition, and governance of football.
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Government institutions such as the Central Bank, the Fair Competition Commission (FCC), the Premier League Board, the Sports Council, and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) must be visibly involved in ensuring the sport is run both commercially and ethically to prevent illicit transactions or practices that could damage the sport’s reputation.
As noted earlier, there is a possibility that unexplained money could infiltrate our league system, leading to financial crimes.
This raises important questions: If TFF and the Premier League Board were to enforce strict financial regulations to curb dirty money in football, how many clubs would still be able to operate?
And are fans ready to bear the true cost of club operations to ensure teams rely on legitimate revenue instead of donations, handouts, or political goodwill?
This can only be achieved if every club has clear and sustainable revenue streams instead of depending on generosity or political romance.
It would be surprising for the fourth-ranked league in Africa to fail at achieving financial independence, given the vast opportunities available to build, improve, and model transparency and accountability for African sports.