DAR ES SALAAM: FOR many young footballers growing up in Tanzania, the dream of playing professional football abroad often seems distant. For Simon Msuva, however, that dream was built step by step, beginning on dusty neighbourhood pitches in Dar es Salaam and eventually taking him to leagues beyond Tanzania’s borders.
Today, the former Young Africans winger is one of Tanzania’s most experienced football exports. Yet behind his success lies a story of determination, sacrifice and inspiration.
Msuva has revealed that during the early stages of his football career, one player stood out as the perfect example of what a young Tanzanian footballer could achieve. “Mbwana Samatta was the player I looked up to when I started my football journey.”
“He was the mirror through which I saw my own dreams. Seeing him succeed outside Tanzania made me believe that I could also achieve the same goal.” Msuva said.
For a generation of Tanzanian players, Samatta’s rise from local football to international recognition became a source of motivation.
Msuva admits that watching the Taifa Stars captain excel abroad gave him the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
While Samatta was his original inspiration, Msuva says his current football role model is Senegalese superstar Sadio Mane. “I admire Sadio Mane because of his discipline, humility and achievements in football,” he explained.
“He has shown that with hard work and commitment, African players can compete at the highest level in the world.” Msuva’s own football story began in Ubungo Kibo, where he spent much of his childhood.
Like many young Tanzanians, he first developed his skills in neighbourhood teams, playing countless matches with friends and local football enthusiasts.
One of the teams that helped shape his early development was a street football side known as Kafia Ndina. “We played football every day,” Msuva recalled.
“Those games taught us competitiveness, teamwork and confidence.” His talent soon attracted attention, leading him to join Pangoline Academy, where he trained under respected coach Boniface Mkwasa. The academy became a crucial stepping stone in his career.
There, he refined his technical abilities and gained exposure to structured football training that would prepare him for bigger opportunities.
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A breakthrough arrived when he participated in the Copa Coca-Cola youth tournament, one of Tanzania’s most important grassroots football competitions.
Msuva impressed scouts and coaches with his performances and was eventually selected for Tanzania’s Under-17 national team.
“That tournament changed my life,” he said. “It opened doors for me and allowed people to see my potential.” His progress continued when he joined Azam FC’s youth ranks. At the club, he developed alongside several players who would later become household names in Tanzanian football.
During the 2010/11 season, Msuva earned promotion to Azam’s senior team together with goalkeeper Aishi Manula and defender Mohamed Hussein. “It was a special moment for us,” he said.
“Moving from the youth team to the senior squad showed that our hard work was paying off.” The winger would later become one of the most recognisable faces in Tanzanian football, earning success both at club and international levels.
However, Msuva believes many people underestimate the challenges involved in playing football abroad. According to him, talent alone is not enough. “Playing outside Tanzania is not as easy as many people think,” he said.
“A player must be mentally prepared to overcome many challenges. Language is one of them and food can also become a problem. Many players struggle to adapt and eventually decide to return home.”
He says professional football abroad requires patience, resilience and a willingness to embrace different cultures. “When you move to another country, everything changes,” he explained.
“The environment, the language, the lifestyle and even the expectations. If you are not ready, it becomes very difficult.”
Having experienced those realities firsthand, Msuva hopes more Tanzanian players will challenge themselves by pursuing careers in foreign leagues. He believes the benefits extend far beyond individual success.
“I would like to see many Tanzanian players competing in different leagues around the world,” he said.
“That experience helps players grow and, in the end, it benefits our national team.”
According to Msuva, exposure to higher levels of competition improves tactical awareness, professionalism and confidence, qualities that players can bring back when representing Taifa Stars. As for his own future, the experienced winger has entered a new chapter in his career.
Msuva recently became a free agent after the expiration of his contract with Iraqi side Al Talaba SC. While speculation continues regarding his next destination, he insists no final decision has been made.
“For now, I am waiting for offers,” he revealed. “I am not currently thinking about returning to Tanzania, but football is unpredictable. If a good opportunity comes, I will consider it.”
At a time when many players are preparing for retirement, Msuva remains focused on extending his career and continuing to compete at a high level.
From the streets of Ubungo Kibo to professional football overseas, his journey serves as a reminder that success rarely arrives overnight.
It is built through persistence, sacrifice and belief. And for Simon Msuva, the dream that began by watching Mbwana Samatta has become a story that now inspires a new generation of Tanzanian footballers to aim beyond their borders.