Himid Mao

Himid Mao Mkami (born 5 November 1992) is a Tanzanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Egyptian Premier League club Ghazl El Mahalla and the Tanzania national team.

Early life Mao was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His father, Mao Mkami, was also a footballer who represented Tanzania between 1991 and 1995 and was popularly known as "Ball Dancer". His primary education started at Kiwandani Primary School, Turiani, Morogoro, after which he moved to Dar es Salaam Karume and studied there until the sixth grade. He completed his primary education at Omar Ali Juma Primary School, Magomeni, Dar es Salaam and later joined Tabata Secondary School where he completed his Form 4 in 2011.

Club career Mao started with Elite Academy in 2005, and after getting a Tanzania under17 call up, he moved to Azam Academy in 2007, where he won the Uhai Cup twice in a row. In 2008, he played his first professional match against Kagera Sugar and was promoted to the senior side by 2009. During the 2013–14 season, he scored a decisive goal against Ruvu Shooting and helped Azam win the Tanzanian Premier League for the first time in their history.

After 11 years at Azam, he joined Egyptian Premier League side Petrojet in June 2018. In his first season with the club, he played in 30 out of 34 league matches. Following Petrojet's relegation, Mao signed a two-year contract with ENPPI on 1 August 2019.

International career Mao was called up to the Tanzanian under-17 squad for the 2010 Under-17 Copa Coca-Cola in South Africa. Tanzania scored 32 goals in the group stage, conceding only three, and qualified for the knockout round. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter-finals when they were defeated 1–0 by Botswana. Mao also played for Tanzania's under-20s and under-23s.

On 13 June 2019, Mao was named in Tanzania's 23-men squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

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