Young Africans president Engineer Hersi Ally Said has lifted the lid on how the Tanzanian giants beat some of African football’s biggest clubs to the signature of Peter Shalulile.
Yanga have snapped up ‘Sha-Sha’, who recently parted ways with Mamelodi Sundowns, to reunite with head coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
Easily one of the greatest goalscorers in PSL history, the prolific forward was one of the most sought-after free agents on the continent. With no transfer fee involved, the Namibian international had the freedom to choose his next destination.
The 2024/25 African champions, Pyramids FC, where his former Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is now in charge, reportedly tabled a more lucrative offer for the striker. Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca, led by Nasreddine Nabi, also made their move, while clubs from North Africa and the Gulf region were in the race for his signature.
Nonetheless, it was Young Africans who landed his coveted signature. For Hersi, signing Shalulile was never about winning a bidding war. Instead, it was about selling the player a vision of what he could achieve at the Dar es Salaam-based outfit.
HOW YOUNG AFRICANS WON PETER SHALULILE’S SIGNATURE
“Peter is a free agent, so the decision was entirely his. There were clubs that offered him more money than we did, but he chose our project,” Hersi told FARPost. The Yanga boss revealed that it took two weeks of negotiations to convince the former Highlands Park striker that Tanzania was the right place for the next chapter of his career.
“It took me two weeks to convince him. I told him this is not about signing a contract, it’s about the environment, the support and what we want to achieve together.”
Hersi’s pursuit of Shalulile, however, began long before the striker became a free agent. The club boss disclosed that he had maintained contact with the player for the past three years, repeatedly telling him that one day he would play for Young Africans.
He added: “I’ve been speaking to Peter for three years. I always told him, ‘One day you will be my player.’”
When the opportunity finally presented itself, Hersi made his pitch clear. “I told him, ‘If you’re leaving your comfort zone, come to a place where the project is clear. I don’t want to bring you here just to sign a contract, I want to bring you here to take on a new challenge and enjoy it.’”
The message resonated with the 31-year-old striker, who eventually gave the African Clubs Association [ACA] chairman the answer he had been waiting years to hear. “He told me, ‘President, I’m convinced. I’m coming.’”
Beyond his goalscoring exploits, Hersi believes the Brave Warriors captain’s greatest contribution could be the standards he will set at the club. “His professionalism and work ethic are exactly what I want to add to this team.”
IMPRESSED BY MANQOBA MNGQITHI
Meanwhile, Hersi said he had been impressed by the intensity and detail that Mngqithi has brought to the training ground since his arrival. “The training is top quality. The players spend more than an hour in video sessions understanding how he wants them to play before going onto the pitch,” he said. “They train for more than two hours at a very high level. I’m telling you, the quality is exceptional.”
According to Hersi, Mngqithi’s meticulous approach is already helping players better understand the tactical demands of his philosophy.
“He is very serious and meticulous in his work. Everything is geared towards helping the players understand his philosophy.”
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