Thomas Ulimwengu
Encyclopedia
Thomas Emanuel Ulimwengu (born 14 June 1993) is a Tanzania
n football striker who plays for TP Mazembe
in Democratic Republic of Congo. He plays international football for Tanzania
, the Tanzanian Olympic Football Team and the Tanzania U-20 National Team. Ulimwengu has played a crucial role in Tanzania's qualifying campaign for the 2012 Olympics, having scored in every qualifying match so far.
, the Tanzanian capital, where he played for local club team Area C. At the age of 14 he was selected for the Dodoma Region U-17 team. Soon after, he was selected through a nationwide talent search to join the first class of the Tanzania Soccer Academy, a joint project between the Tanzania Football Federation and British investors.
Ulimwengu impressed at the soccer academy and was soon called up to the Tanzania U-17 national team. He was joint top scorer in the 2009 CECAFA U-17 Championship
, in which Tanzania finished 2nd. After his good performance in the competition, he was regularly called up by coach Marcio Maximo
to practice with the senior national team, the Taifa Stars.
. The following summer, he represented Tanzania in the 2010 Copa Coca Cola African Championship in South Africa, where he scored nine goals in five matches.
In July 2010 Thomas joined Swedish development outfit Athletic Football Club.
Ulimwengu made his senior debut for Tanzania as a substitute in the opening match of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup against Zambia. He made his first start for the national team in the following match against Burundi, but sustained an injury in that match and had to sit out the rest of the tournament. Tanzania went on to win the competition, and were 2011 CECAFA Champions.
In March 2011, Ulimwengu went to DR Congo for a trial with African Champions League holders TP Mazembe
, who stated their intention to sign him after two weeks. But Ulimwengu returned to Tanzania to join up with the national U-23 team in their 2012 Olympic qualifiers. He scored crucial goals in both their 2-1 loss away against Cameroon, and their 2-1 victory against Cameroon in the return leg. Tanzania knocked Cameroon out on penalties and were drawn against Nigeria for their next qualifying match. In June 2011 Ulimwengu played in the Olympic qualifier against 2008 Olympic silver medalists Nigeria. He scored in the 85th minute of the match to lead Tanzania to a 1-0 victory. The second leg will be played in Nigeria on June 18, 2011. Throughout there summer there was much speculation as to where Ulimwengu would sign for the 2011-12 football season, and the striker was linked to a number of clubs including TP Mazembe
in the DR Congo Premier League, AS Monaco in Ligue 1
and Hamburger SV
in the Bundesliga
.
On August 31, 2011 Ulimwengu joined 4-time African Champions League winners TP Mazembe
Englebert of DR Congo.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
n football striker who plays for TP Mazembe
TP Mazembe
Tout Puissant Mazembe, formerly known as Englebert, are a Congolese football club based in Lubumbashi. Their home games are played at Stade Municipal de Lubumbashi. Its nickname is Les corbeaux despite having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth on the team crest...
in Democratic Republic of Congo. He plays international football for Tanzania
Tanzania national football team
The Tanzania national football team represents Tanzania in association football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania. Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam and their head coach is Jan Børge Poulsen....
, the Tanzanian Olympic Football Team and the Tanzania U-20 National Team. Ulimwengu has played a crucial role in Tanzania's qualifying campaign for the 2012 Olympics, having scored in every qualifying match so far.
Youth Career
Ulimwengu grew up in DodomaDodoma
Dodoma , officially Dodoma Urban District, population 324,347 , is the national capital of Tanzania, and the capital of the Dodoma region. In 1973, plans were made to move the capital to Dodoma...
, the Tanzanian capital, where he played for local club team Area C. At the age of 14 he was selected for the Dodoma Region U-17 team. Soon after, he was selected through a nationwide talent search to join the first class of the Tanzania Soccer Academy, a joint project between the Tanzania Football Federation and British investors.
Ulimwengu impressed at the soccer academy and was soon called up to the Tanzania U-17 national team. He was joint top scorer in the 2009 CECAFA U-17 Championship
2009 CECAFA U-17 Championship
The second edition of the CECAFA U-17 Tournament, all games were originally to be played in Nairobi, Kenya but have since been moved to Sudan. due to financial reasons, the Sudanese FA and El Merreikh Investment Group have agreed to sponsor the tournament....
, in which Tanzania finished 2nd. After his good performance in the competition, he was regularly called up by coach Marcio Maximo
Marcio Maximo
Márcio Máximo Barcellos is a Brazilian football manager.-Career:Máximo was a member of Brazil's under-17 and under-20 sides coach staff from 1992 until 1993. The teams included the future stars like Ronaldo and Ronaldinho...
to practice with the senior national team, the Taifa Stars.
Senior Career
In the 2009/2010 Tanzania Premier League season Ulimwengu played on-loan for Moro UnitedMoro United
Moro United is a Tanzanian football club based in Morogoro..They play in the top level of Tanzanian professional football, the Tanzanian Premier League.Their home games are played at Jamhuri Stadium.-Performance in CAF competitions:...
. The following summer, he represented Tanzania in the 2010 Copa Coca Cola African Championship in South Africa, where he scored nine goals in five matches.
In July 2010 Thomas joined Swedish development outfit Athletic Football Club.
Ulimwengu made his senior debut for Tanzania as a substitute in the opening match of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup against Zambia. He made his first start for the national team in the following match against Burundi, but sustained an injury in that match and had to sit out the rest of the tournament. Tanzania went on to win the competition, and were 2011 CECAFA Champions.
In March 2011, Ulimwengu went to DR Congo for a trial with African Champions League holders TP Mazembe
TP Mazembe
Tout Puissant Mazembe, formerly known as Englebert, are a Congolese football club based in Lubumbashi. Their home games are played at Stade Municipal de Lubumbashi. Its nickname is Les corbeaux despite having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth on the team crest...
, who stated their intention to sign him after two weeks. But Ulimwengu returned to Tanzania to join up with the national U-23 team in their 2012 Olympic qualifiers. He scored crucial goals in both their 2-1 loss away against Cameroon, and their 2-1 victory against Cameroon in the return leg. Tanzania knocked Cameroon out on penalties and were drawn against Nigeria for their next qualifying match. In June 2011 Ulimwengu played in the Olympic qualifier against 2008 Olympic silver medalists Nigeria. He scored in the 85th minute of the match to lead Tanzania to a 1-0 victory. The second leg will be played in Nigeria on June 18, 2011. Throughout there summer there was much speculation as to where Ulimwengu would sign for the 2011-12 football season, and the striker was linked to a number of clubs including TP Mazembe
TP Mazembe
Tout Puissant Mazembe, formerly known as Englebert, are a Congolese football club based in Lubumbashi. Their home games are played at Stade Municipal de Lubumbashi. Its nickname is Les corbeaux despite having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth on the team crest...
in the DR Congo Premier League, AS Monaco in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
and Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
in the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
.
On August 31, 2011 Ulimwengu joined 4-time African Champions League winners TP Mazembe
TP Mazembe
Tout Puissant Mazembe, formerly known as Englebert, are a Congolese football club based in Lubumbashi. Their home games are played at Stade Municipal de Lubumbashi. Its nickname is Les corbeaux despite having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth on the team crest...
Englebert of DR Congo.