'We are Not Far Off'- Kenneth Muguna on How Kenya Can Overtake 'Progressive' Tanzanian Football

Former Gor Mahia,Kenya Police and Azam FC midfielder Kenneth Muguna has identified key factors behind the significant growth of Tanzanian football, positioning it as a rising power on the continent.

Muguna, who recently moved to Botswana to play for Township Rollers, spent two seasons in the Tanzanian Premier League with Azam FC after joining them in June 2021. He departed on good terms when his contract expired.

Reflecting on his time there, the 2016 Kenyan Premier League Most Valuable Player (MVP) highlighted why Tanzania's league has flourished, offering a model for Kenyan football administrators to make their own league more attractive and marketable.

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“I left Tanzania because we did not agree on terms to prolong my stay, but it was one of the best moments of my career because they are professional, and the environment there is conducive for any player,” Muguna said on the Kenya Football Dialogue YouTube Channel.

Over the last five years, Tanzanian football has grown exponentially, with clubs like Simba and Yanga regularly getting to the knockout stages of the CAF interclub competitions.

Explaining why football in that country has become the creme de la creme of the sport in Africa, Muguna attributed it down to a huge factor - proper marketing.“Football in Tanzania is respected a lot. The fans appreciate what the players have to offer. I cannot say we are as far off as Kenya because the federation is coming up well gradually.  We did well at CHAN and were unfortunate not to win, but everything is possible.”

Muguna pointed out that Tanzania’s football ecosystem thrives because everyone—from the federation to the media to influencers and corporate bodies—pulls in the same direction. 

According to him, Kenyan football lacks that unified push. “We need everyone, not just the federation, but also the media. If we can market our ball better, it means we will reach a wider audience,” he noted.

One of the most striking observations Muguna made concerns the role of celebrities and influencers in Tanzanian football.

 He highlighted how public figures such as global music star Diamond Platnumz regularly promote and participate in football-related events, massively boosting visibility and fan turnout. 

“You see in Tanzania how people like Diamond help grow the league. If we can find a platform where we can incorporate those kinds of figures in our football, then the stadia will gradually start filling up.”

He further explained that even if such personalities stop appearing, the fans they attract tend to remain. “At the end of the day, football is there. Even if Diamond is not there the next day, you will have been attracted to football.”

Muguna also praised Tanzania’s political leadership for embracing football and using their influence to amplify national tournaments. 

He pointed specifically to the role of the country’s President William Ruto during CHAN 2024, whose involvement sparked massive attendance and a sense of national pride.

 “The president is the biggest figure in the country. Being involved in CHAN played a huge role because everyone follows him, and it enabled everyone to come to the stadia. That was a perfect example for us.”

The midfielder believes Kenya has the talent, the clubs and the fan base to replicate Tanzania’s success—but only if the country modernises its approach. 

He emphasised that corporates, broadcasters and influencers must be brought on board, not as accessories but as essential partners in football development. “We have to bring in influencers and more, because that is how corporates will be interested in coming,” he concluded.