Football: Tanzanian imports join La Passe |04 February 2014

Three top Tanzanian players arrived on Sunday to join La Digue-based La Passe for the 2014 season.

Sports Nation was at the Seychelles International Airport along with the first division side’s official to welcome the three new recruits who are eager to prove their real worth.

In fact two of the three players have enjoyed spells with this same La Passe side not so long ago and therefore they are not in unfamiliar territory.

The highly talented Rashid Mohamed is well known in the local league as he played for two seasons, to be precise in 2009-2011 on La Digue, but went back home to link up with Younga.

The 25-year-old Mohamed said he decided to return to these shores as La Passe wanted him back and he has an open mind about the duration of this contract.

The other player is attacking midfielder Salum Kinje who was with La Passe from 2007-2009 before moving to FC Leopards in Kenya for two seasons. In 2011, he returned to Tanzania to play for Simba Sports until he was recruited by La Passe and he has said he is pleased to be back.

“I’m very happy to be back to play in the local league as I enjoyed my time here and the football is of a good level,” the 28-year-old Kinje told Sports Nation.

La Passe also bolstered their attack with Semmy Kessy Hassani who is on his debut season on La Digue after leaving his side Miambeni in Zanzibar. The 29-year-old Hassani had a spell with Younga and has also played abroad notably in Oman from 2007-2008 and he is looking forward to this new challenge.

La Passe narrowly missed out on the Barclays league division one title last year as they were only minutes away from clinching their fourth league crown.

As a result, the management opted to send back their Malagasy contingent comprising the burly Valerie, Fagnorena Farampin and Dieu Donne who did not live up to expectations.

Surely the La Passe supporters will be expecting much this season especially with 2013 footballer of the year Achille Henriette still in their ranks. The arrival of the three Tanzanian players will hopefully help La Passe end their silverware drought for the last three seasons.

R. J-L.    

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Published: 04-02-2014