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Bruce proud of Azam’s Prince

BY FORTUNE MBELE Hub The Sports

TANZANIA-BASED former Warriors defender Bruce Kangwa has heaped praises on compatriot Prince Dube, whom he says has almost single-handedly transformed Azam FC’s fortunes since his arrival at the Tanzanian Vodacom Premier League side last year.

Dube arrived at Azam seven months ago and despite being sidelined with injury for six weeks between November and December, he is still gunning for the Golden Boot award after scoring 14 goals for the championship-chasing Tanzanian side.

The influence Dube has had in the Azam changing room has impressed Kangwa, who briefly played alongside the teenage forward at Highlanders in 2016 before he moved to Azam FC.

The 33-year-old former Bosso captain, who has been a permanent feature in the Azam starting line-up since joining the club five years ago, has been charmed by the manner Dube has quickly made an impact at Azam

“The coming of Prince to Azam changed a lot of things at the club and he has had so much influence on the rest of the team,” Kangwa, who is the vice-captain at Azam FC, told

in an interview on Friday. “Whenever he is in the team, he will make a difference. He is a humble young man with a bright future. He just has to keep his head up. One thing about Prince is that he knew what he came for on foreign land. The sky is the limit for him. Prince plays for the badge and the team, his name comes after everything. He has put the team first, that is why everything is flowing. He will be remembered well when he leaves.”

Kangwa’s praises come at a time when the Warriors striker is reportedly attracting interest from several top clubs on the continent following his goal-scoring prowess in the Tanzanian Mainland Premier League.

Tanzanian champions Simba SC, who are in the Caf Champions League quarter-finals, are reportedly keen on snatching the player but Azam insist they will only sell their top player to a European club.

While Dube has been shining in Tanzania, Kangwa has also been breaking records of his own as the former Warriors defender is the longest-serving foreign player at Azam.

Since he joined Azam, Kangwa has now played more games than any player since the club was formed in 2007.

He has hardly been benched or missed a game since joining the club, making him the most capped foreigner in the league.

“It feels great to have been made vice-captain and having your contract extended. It shows that the club leadership has respect, trust, and belief in you,” Kangwa said.

He said he settled in well at Azam when he arrived at the club mid-2016 and immediately had a taste of continental club football in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Kangwa would also go on to feature in the same competition for the Tanzanian side in 2019 when he made an emotional return to Barbourfields Stadium against his former club Highlanders.

“I had never played in the African Safari. The time when we were supposed to go into Africa with Highlanders, I remember the club was banned by Caf [Confederation of African Football] and Azam introduced me to continental football. When we won the FA Cup in 2018, I played again in the Confederation Cup after having played in 2016 when I joined them. It was a great experience for me playing in the African Safari,” he said.

“I settled well in Tanzania when I arrived and the welcome at Azam was exceptional and the working conditions have been good. It has been a great experience and you know when you arrive in a foreign country, all you are there for is to work hard and make your employers believe.”

Kangwa believes he still has more to play and like many other former Highlanders players, he says he wants to retire at the Bulawayo giants.

“For now, I don’t want to say what the future holds for me. I want to keep it a secret and that is what is best for me, but if my legs still allow me, I will keep on playing and would go to any club that would want my services, but when I think of hanging my boots, I would like to retire at Highlanders, the club that put me on the spotlight,” the former Warriors defender said.

Kangwa and Dube are teammates with former FC Platinum midfielder Never Tigere at Azam.

The Sports Hub

en-zw

2021-05-09T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-09T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digital.alphamedia.co.zw/article/281857236412197

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