Atudo ‘castigates’ Tanzanian football


A month after being released by Azam, Kenyan defender Joackins Atudo has suggested that he feels his country’s Premier League is a stronger competition than the Mainland Premier League because there is more balance between the teams.

Joackins Atudo

Atudo, the imposing centre back who signed a fresh deal last week with Tusker from Dar es Salaam tycoons Azam, applauded the competitiveness of the Kenyan league, noting that unlike in Tanzania, the competition in Kenya is more open.

“In Tanzania it’s all about Simba, Yanga and Azam with Coastal Union pulling an occasional shocker. It’s different here in Kenya, any team can win the title,” Atudo said in an interview with the Nation Sport of Kenya.

The Kenya international defender also said, as opposed to Tanzania, Kenya has better pitches which enable players to enjoy the game more.

“They don’t have as many good pitches as we do here. The poor pitches often expose the players to injuries,” he said. Reflecting on his one-year stint with the Tanzanian side, the combative centre back claimed “lack of regular playing time” under former coach Stewart Hall made him reconsider his long term future.

“Azam is a great team and I enjoyed my time there. They have a sound management and their fan base is very passionate,” he said. “But I felt it reached a time when I had to make a decision on my future. It did not make sense to be at a club where playing time was very limited.”


Atudo said his return to Tusker FC for a second stint in three years was driven by “the desire to be a champion”, adding he wants to help the Brewers to their 11th league title.

The imposing centre back was part of the Brewers’ squad of 2011 that won the league title under coach Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo and went ahead to retain the gong a season later under the fiery Robert Matano. It was after retaining the title in 2012 that Atudo signed for Azam, which released him last month.

After spending a season with the Tanzanian side, Atudo said he is relishing a comeback to the Kenyan Premier League when action gets underway in February.

“I am happy to be back. Tusker has been a great club to me and I want to help them be champions again. At the moment I am enjoying the close season break before linking up with the team for the pre-season,” he said.

Atudo, who alongside Osborne Monday, Clifford Alwanga and Brian Osumba are the new arrivals at the club, is however not part of the Tusker squad that is in Zanzibar for the annual Mapinduzi Cup.

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