Mrisho Ngasa

Mrisho Khalfani Ngasa (born 5 May 1989) is a Tanzanian former professional footballer. Ngasa was known for his explosive pace, dribbling and goalscoring. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time in his country and top goalscorer of the national team.

Club career In April 2009, Ngasa was invited for a trial with English Premier League side West Ham United. On 21 May 2010, Ngassa joined Azam FC for $40,000 from Young Africans. It was the biggest transfer in Tanzanian football to date. In July 2011, Ngassa went on trial with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer, and came on as a substitute against Manchester United in a friendly match.

At the beginning of August 2012, Ngasa signed for Simba, on loan.

Following the 2012–13 Tanzanian Premier League season, after his contract with Azam FC had expired, on 20 May 2013 Ngassa signed a two-year contract with the league and cup title holders Young Africans. He became one of the top scorers of 2014 CAF Champions League with two hat-tricks making a totality of six goals.

In 2015, Ngasa signed a four-year contract with Free State Stars, a South African-based club. He then signed for Fanja in Oman. In 2016 Ngasa signed a two-year contract with Mbeya City in Tanzania. Ngasa then joined Ndanda, also in Tanzania.

International career Ngasa was the top scorer in the 2009 CECAFA Cup with five goals as Tanzania finished fourth in the tournament.

Ngasa played 100 international matches between 2006 and 2015, becoming the first Tanzanian player to achieve this feat. He also managed to score 25 goals in the process, becoming the nation's all-time top goalscorer.

Personal life Ngasa is the son of Khalfan Ngasa, a former Tanzanian international footballer who played as a midfielder. Ngassa is among of talented players in Tanzania who impressed many coaches and scouts around the world, among the famous coaches who was impressed by his talent was Gianfranco Zola, the former Chelsea and Italy national team player, who was working as the manager of West Ham United.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Tanzania's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 1 December 2006 Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa 2006 CECAFA Cup 2. 11 October 2008 Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 3. 7 January 2009 Nakivubo Stadium, Kampala 2008 CECAFA Cup 4. 13 January 2009 Mandela National Stadium, Kampala 2008 CECAFA Cup 5. 1 December 2009 Mumias Sports Complex, Mumias 2009 CECAFA Cup 6. 4 December 2009 Mumias Sports Complex, Mumias 2009 CECAFA Cup 7. 8 December 2009 Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi 2009 CECAFA Cup 8. 9. 10. 3 March 2010 CCM Kirumba Stadium, Mwanza Friendly 11. 1 May 2010 Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam Friendly 12. 11 August 2010 Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam Friendly 13. 9 February 2011 Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam Friendly 14. 11 November 2011 Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, N'Djamena 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification 15. 8 December 2011 Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam 2011 CECAFA Cup 16. 15 August 2012 Molepolole Stadium, Molepolole Friendly 17. 1 December 2012 Lugogo Stadium, Kampala 2012 CECAFA Cup 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 22 December 2012 Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam Friendly 23. 7 December 2013 Mombasa Municipal Stadium, Mombasa 2013 CECAFA Cup 24. 25. 29 March 2015 CCM Kirumba Stadium, Mwanza Friendly

Honours Young Africans Tanzanian Premier League: 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14 Tusker Cup: 2007, 2009

Azam Kagame Interclub Cup runner-up: 2012 Individual Tanzanian Premier League Best Player: 2009–10 Tanzania Premier League Golden Boot: 2010–11 CECAFA Cup Golden Boot: 2009 Africa Champions league Golden Boot: 2013–14 VPL Best Player of the Month: April 2015