Florent Ibenge Makes It Clear Why Feisal Salum Chose Azam Over Kaizer Chiefs

Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge has provided a surprising and candid clarification regarding the decision of star midfielder Feisal Salum to remain at the club.

Salum, one of Tanzanian football's most prized assets, had been the subject of intense transfer speculation for months.

 The playmaker was heavily linked with a move away from the 'Chamazi Billionaires', with giants Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa, alongside local rivals Simba SC and Young Africans, all reportedly vying for his signature.

Instead, the 27-year-old, affectionately known as 'Fei Toto', silenced the rumours by putting pen to paper on a significant contract extension, tying him to Azam FC until the end of the 2026/27 season. 

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The announcement of Salum's new deal was strategically made just before the club confirmed the blockbuster signing of Ibenge, a highly decorated Congolese coach renowned for his successes with AS Vita, RS Berkane, and Al Hilal.

However, the new coach, who has already made a significant impact, remaining undefeated in the domestic league and guiding the club to the CAF Confederation Cup group stages, has set the record straight.

Ibenge, who previously coached the Congo national team, confirmed his immense regard for the Taifa Stars attacker, having recognized his talent long before arriving in Chamazi.

“I think Feisal is a very, very good player,” Ibenge told FARPost.

“I knew him before because I played against him when he was at Yanga. He is an outstanding player.”

The rumours linking Salum to Kaizer Chiefs, in particular, had gained traction due to the presence of his former Yanga coach, Nasreddine Nabi, at the helm of the South African club.

 A reunion at Amakhosi seemed a logical narrative. Ibenge, however, admitted he was not privy to that specific interest.

“I didn’t know that Kaizer Chiefs wanted to sign him,” the coach revealed.

“But I feel it was a good choice [for him to stay] because he’s an important player.”

The most telling part of the interview came when the former Shanghai Shenhua mentor flatly dismissed the notion that his appointment was the ace up Azam's sleeve to keep Salum. 

In a moment of striking humility, Ibenge explained that Salum's decision was based purely on his faith in the club's long-term vision, not the identity of the incoming coach.

“When I arrived, they had already concluded the deal to keep him at the club. He had already accepted to stay and be part of the project," Ibenge clarified.

"He didn’t stay because of me; he stayed because he still wanted to be part of the project. They had already agreed on the direction this project was taking.”

This revelation paints a powerful picture of Azam's ambition and their ability to sell a compelling project to their key players. 

Under Ibenge, Azam is preparing to face a tough CAF Confederation Cup group featuring Wydad Athletic Club, Nairobi City, and AS Maniema, with their star midfielder fully committed to the cause.