Former SC Villa captain Gift Fred has completed a move to Ethiopian giants St. George FC on a two-year contract, following a brief stint with Tanzania’s Young Africans SC (Yanga).
The 26-year-old defender joins the Ethiopian side on a free transfer after mutually terminating his contract with Yanga, where he struggled for regular playing time.
Fred, who signed a three-year contract with the reigning Tanzanian Premier League champions at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, faced stiff competition from established defenders like Yanga captain Bakari Mwamnyeto.
Despite his potential, limited opportunities led to his early exit from the club, who are 30-time record Tanzanian Premier League champions.
His transfer comes in the wake of FIFA lifting Yanga’s transfer ban, which now allows them to sign new players.
Yanga, fresh off qualifying for the CAF Champions League group stages with a commanding 7-0 aggregate victory over Ethiopian Premier League champions CBE, have until September 30 to make squad adjustments for the continental competition.
St. George, on the other hand, will be hoping Gift Fred’s experience can bolster their defensive options after a shaky start to the Ethiopian Premier League season.
The Addis Ababa-based side currently sits 15th on the table following a 2-1 defeat to Fasil Ketema on opening day. Last season, they finished in 5th place, well below their usual high standards.
Before joining Yanga, Fred enjoyed a successful spell with SC Villa and also had stints at Booma FC and Gomba in the Buganda Masaza Cup, where he lifted the title in 2020.
