Tanzania Premier League side Azam Football Club and Swedish side AIK Football Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Talent Development in Tanzania
Sweden’s top-tier side AIK and Azam FC of Tanzania have entered into a groundbreaking five-year cooperation agreement aimed at revolutionizing player development. The partnership is set to create a direct pathway for Azam FC players to access AIK’s prestigious football academy, providing new avenues for talent growth in Tanzania and the wider East African region.
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The partnership is set to provide Azam FC players with opportunities to try out for AIK Football’s P17 and P19 teams, potentially earning a spot in AIK’s A-squad. Both clubs will work together on various aspects, from coaching and training to scouting and recruitment, ensuring a seamless transition for Tanzanian players into the European football scene.
“The collaboration with Azam FC opens up completely new opportunities for us to train, assess, and recruit players with great potential to the club. It will be a fantastic complement to our existing academy activities and a strategically important piece of the puzzle for AIK Football’s continued sporting development. We have high expectations for this collaboration,” remarked Fredrik Söderberg, AIK Football’s club director and CEO.
Azam FC’s Vice Chairman, Omary Kuwe, echoed his sentiment, highlighting how the partnership will benefit both clubs: “By collaborating and sharing knowledge, especially within our academies, we are creating a direct pathway between our clubs that will promote talent development and growth. Together, Azam FC and AIK can set new standards in football excellence, promote cultural exchange, and create lasting legacies for both our clubs.”
The agreement outlines several key elements that will be central to the partnership’s success:
-Training and Development: AIK Football will train leaders and coaches from Azam FC’s academy in AIK’s methods.
-Scouting Initiatives: A joint scouting system will be developed to identify and assess talent not only in Tanzania but also in neighbouring countries
-Player Tryouts and Recruitment: Azam FC players will be offered trials at AIK’s P17 and P19 teams, with pathways into AIK’s A-squad for top performers. AIK will also implement Swedish training methods within Azam’s academy to better prepare players for these trials.
With AIK’s expertise, this collaboration is poised to accelerate the professional development of young Tanzanian players, giving them the tools to succeed in highly competitive European leagues. AIK personnel are set to be making regular visits to Dar-es-Salaam to ensure that the partnership remains active and effective in nurturing future football stars.
AIK Football is no stranger to East African talent. Kenyan players like Eric “Marcelo” Ouma who is currently at Rakow Czestochowa in Poland, and Collins Sichenje who is Serbia’s Fk Vojvodina have featured for the Swedish club in recent years.
AIK also recently acquired highly rated Kenya U20 Captain Stanley Wilson Omondi from Kenya Premier League side Kariobangi Sharks.
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