Harambee Starlets goalkeeper Caroline Rufa had a night to remember after bagging the Best Goalkeeper award of the 2023-2024 Tanzanian Women’s Premier League season.Rufa was awarded on Thursday night during the end-of-season gala in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where outstanding players in the men’s and women’s Premier League, second tier, and internationals were feted.The shot-stopper, who helped Simba Queens retain their league title, beat Marian Shabaan of Bunda Queens and Rajath Abbas of JKT to the award.##NAJAVA_MECA_8242595##Rufa, a Butere Girls’ High School alumnus, joined Simba Queens in August 2022 from Fountain Gate Princess.Apart from winning the individual award, Rufa was named in the overall team of the season that was dominated by Simba Queens players.Starlets skipper Ruth Ingosi, striker Jentrix Shikangwa and midfielder Corazone Aquino might have missed the individual awards but made it to the team that had eight players from Simba.Ingosi joined the club in September 2022, leaving Cypriot first division side FC Lakatamia while Shikangwa returned to the side earlier in the year after a short stint in China.Kenyan forward bags brace of assists for St Mirren in Conference League qualifiersSimba are gearing up for the CAF Champions League CECAFA Zonal qualifiers set for Ethiopia this month.The club has already begun beefing its squad for the assignment ahead, with key among the arrivals being Kenyan left-back Wincate Kaari.Three Kenyans including Rufa had been shortlisted in various categories of the gala.Aquino was a candidate for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) while former Sofapaka coach David Ouma was a nominee for the Coach of the Year award.Will Austin follow in Olunga and Blackberry Odhiambo’s footsteps after winning MVP gong?Aisha Mnuka was named the women’s MVP while Yanga’s midfield maestro Stephane Aziz Ki scooped the award in the men’s category.Ouma helped Coastal Union punch a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup following their fourth-place finish in the men’s league.Yanga head coach Miguel Gamondi beat Bruno Ferry of Azam FC and Ouma to the award.
