Aziz Ki credit teamwork

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans SC midfielder Aziz Ki has credited his Golden Boot victory to the entire club, emphasizing that the fans played a crucial role in pushing him to achieve this milestone.

“I can say thank you to fans. Thank you to the staff, and all my teammates. This Golden Boot is not for me alone. It is the work of the team and for everyone,” he said with evident excitement during post-match interviews on Monday.

He dedicated his hat trick and the Golden Boot to every fan, insisting, “I dedicate it to everyone, to fans because they all pushed me to go this far.”

Ki also hinted at his future plans, expressing optimism about the upcoming season. “Yes, yes, but I am sure we will come back stronger, insh Allah, next season with the same team and the same people,” he said, indicating his commitment to continue with Young Africans SC.

Also Read: Aziz Ki claims golden boot, Azam qualify for Champions League, Simba head to Confederation

Young Africans SC Head Coach, Nasreddine Nabi Gamondi, praised his star player, acknowledging his exceptional goal-scoring abilities.

“At the beginning of the season, I told him, ‘You are a big player; you can be the top scorer,” Gamondi revealed.

His faith in Ki has certainly paid off, with the player not only emerging as the best player of the tournaments but also clinching the Golden Boot.

Gamondi also emphasized the collective effort required to win matches and trophies, expressing pride in the entire team. “Ki is an incredible player.

I want to congratulate all the players, not just him. He makes significant efforts, which is important, but every player counts,” Gamondi insisted.

Highlighting the significance of retaining top talent for championship success, Gamondi added, “He [Ki] scored a lot of goals, and we were the best in attacking. We won the best team because we kept the best players.”

Gamondi’s comments came immediately after Young Africans SC’s impressive 4-1 victory over Tanzania Prisons in the final league match.

On the other side, Azam FC midfielder Feisal, who was in a tight race with Ki for the Golden Boot, congratulated his competitor.

Feisal emphasized the importance of team success over individual accolades. “I feel good. The priority is the team.

I congratulate him [Ki] for being the top scorer. We are also happy to have qualified for the Champions League. The priority is to qualify, and other things come later,” Feisal explained.

He added, “I feel very happy. The important thing is to take care of yourself, train well, and follow the coach’s instructions.”

Tanzania Prisons Head Coach Ahmad Ally, despite the loss to Young Africans, expressed his satisfaction with the support from the management and players throughout the season.

“It wasn’t easy. In 10 away matches, we earned 12 points, and at home, we gathered 10 points,” Ally noted, showing a balanced performance both home and away.

He extended his gratitude to the Tanzania Prisons’ management for their faith in him.

“There was a great understanding between the management and the players in trusting me,” Coach Ally explained, stressing the importance of the club preparing well for the next season.

In addition to Aziz Ki’s Golden Boot achievement, Coastal Union’s goalkeeper Ley Matampi finished the league with the 15 clean sheets which was the highest in the league followed by Young African’s goalkeeper, Djigui Diarra with 14 clean sheets.

This season’s performance highlighted the talents within the league, with both individual and team efforts playing crucial roles in the successes and challenges faced by the clubs.

Both Ki and Feisal scored in their final matches of the season, Ki’s hat-trick securing his Golden Boot with a total of 21 goals, while Feisal finished with 18 goals.