Mrisho Khalfani Ngasa

Call him a star player in Tanzania football of the time and remain the most expensive local player in the country’s premier league following 50,000 transfer fee paid to Young Africans in the mid of 2010.

Though Azam FC could not clinch one of the two available slots for continental football, (Caf Champions League and Confederations Cup) as it came third behind Young Africans and Simba SC, Ngassa’s big money acquisition paid off instantly as he scooped the golden boot by emerging league’s top scorer of 2010/2011 season.the

Ngassa netted 16 goals during that campaign in 22 matches as the league was made up 12 teams.

Before joining Azam Ngasa had been named the best footballer of the year as he finished second best scorer by seeing the back of the net 15 times.

Prior to joining Young Africans Ngassa spent two seasons (2005 and 2006) with another Tanzania premier league side, Kagera Sugar scoring a number of goals and assisting many as well.

With Young Africans he won two premier league titles during the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons He also won two Tusker Cup titles in 2007 and 2009.

The talented Ngassa can go past any defender as he has demonstrated when his ability put under test several times at club and national team level, where he has scored 15 goals to remain the top scorer in the current squad. He has also assisted 13 goals.

Teams with established sold full - backs such Cameroon’s Timoth Atouba, Brazil’s Michael Bastos, Ivory Coast’s Jean Goso-Goso have all tested Ngassa’s troubles.

His speedy dribbles on the right and left flanks and high quality deliveries to the front men have become his trade marks, despite his short stature.

In 2009 he was invited by then English premier league side, West Ham United for trials under the tutorship of coach Gianfranco Zola but he could not secure the contract.

Early 2010 Ngassa attended trial sessions at USA side Seattle Sounders, during which he became the first Tanzania Player to play against Manchester United in a friendly match where he impressed his prospective bosses as he spent 16 last minutes though Seattle lost by seven goals. Rio Ferdinand however, returned home in England with something to talk about Ngassa as the latter managed to go past the former before shooting agonizingly wide.

 Mrisho, the son of the former Pamba FC, Simba SC and Taifa Stars midfielder, Khalfan Ngassa, has established himself as one of the key players for the national team since he made his debut in March 2008 against Kenya in the African Nations Championship qualifier.

20 months later Ngassa emerged as the top scorer of the CECAFA Challenge Cup held in Kenya in 2009 as he netted 5 goals in six games.

He still holds his and national prospects as he ius yet to reach middle 20s in terms of his age.

Ngasa is looking foward to join Seatle Sounders in January 2012 following his successful trial in July 2011