Why Kenyan teams are flocking to Tanzania for preseason

Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) debutants APS Bomet are the latest Kenyan side to cross the border into Tanzania for preseason preparations ahead of the new campaign.

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Bomet, who left the country on Thursday, 11 September, became the fourth Kenyan side this window to head south.

They are scheduled to face Coastal Union in a friendly match on Sunday.

The trend has grown steadily; Gor Mahia featured in Wednesday’s Simba Day celebrations, where they lost 2-0 to Simba.

KCB are already camping in Tanzania, while Bandari are set to play Yanga later today at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium during Yanga Day.

On the flip side, Tanzanian side Pamba Jiji travelled to Kenya for Shabana Day, where they triumphed on post-match penalties.

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Soy United coach Jeffers Odongo believes the growing interest in Tanzania as a preseason hub is tied to the country’s booming football market.

“Tanzania has marketed their football and invested heavily in it, so Kenyan teams are using the opportunity to benchmark,” Odongo told Mozzart Sport.

“They are doing friendlies to see what Tanzanian teams are doing better and try to implement the same. Honestly, our neighbors are a notch higher than us.”

The resurgence of Tanzanian football began in the early 2010s, but Odongo points to the long-standing Azam TV deal with the Tanzanian Premier League (TPL), inked in 2013, as a game-changer that attracted more sponsors.

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For Odongo, however, the difference goes beyond money, but it lies in management.

“It all comes down to football management. When your management is active, the fan base grows. But when it started failing here, standards dropped and fans deserted stadiums,” he explained.

“Tanzania got it right from management, which drew sponsorship and gave fans something to celebrate and associate with. But after CHAN, there is goodwill in Kenya, and we are optimistic fans will return to the stadiums.”

The coach, who is targeting FKFPL promotion with Soy this season, believes Kenyan clubs’ exposure in Tanzania will spark more competition in the domestic league.

“Yes, the league will be more competitive,” he insisted. “Even these teams are signing foreign players, and we expect to add to that quota. It shows there is work happening behind the scenes that will raise competitiveness.”

Meanwhile, speaking to Mozzart Sport from Dar es Salaam, Bongo FM sports journalist Issa Sulieman said Tanzanians see Kenyan clubs’ visits as a sign of Kenyan football’s revival.

“Most people here are happy to welcome Kenyan teams. They see it as football in Kenya coming back to life after CHAN,” Sulieman noted. “Fans want to see Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Bandari, and even other clubs.”