Azam stand in Yanga’s way

Dar es Salaam. All roads will lead to the 60,000-seater National Stadium today as Young Africans take on red-hot Azam FC in a quarterfinal match of the 2015 Cecafa Kagame Cup. Yanga, the five-time Cecafa Kagame Cup champions, are keen on matching Simba SC’s record Kagame Cup titles while Azam are on a mission to win their first regional trophy.

Azam go into the match in bullish mood having topped Group C with a 100 per cent win-record and without conceding a goal.

Yanga on the other hand made a swift recovery from opening match loss to Gor Mahia to win three conservative matches and finish second in Group A.

At the Kagame Cup, the two sides meet for the second time after the 2012 edition in which Yanga blanked the Chamazi-based outfit 2-0 to win their fifth title.

However, Azam have gone through a major transformation since then and managed to lay their hands on the Premier League trophy in the 2013/14 season. It was their first major title.

The Stewart Hall-coached team also boasts a formidable squad after splashing cash to bring in new players during the summer transfer window. Yanga also reinforced their squad with the capture of several top talents including Malimi Busungu who has so far scored three goals in the tournament. Judging by recent meetings between the two sides, Yanga heads into the match with a record to protect. The Hans van der Pluijm’s men have always edged Azam in decisive matches.

Yanga will rely on the likes of Donald Ngoma, Busungu and Amissi Tambwe to trouble the watertight Azam backline.

For their part, Azam will bank on Ivorian Kipre Tchetche, who has three goals from three matches, Mudathir Yahaya and skipper John Bocco to run the show upfront.

Speaking ahead of the match, Hall declared his team ready for the showdown, but cautioned against referee’s biasness.

“We have prepared well for Yanga and we will be all out trying to advance to the semifinals,” said the Briton.

“However, whenever Azam and Yanga meet, referees have always been making decisions in favour of our opponents. Playing Yanga is like playing against 40,000 fans and officials.”

He added: “I am looking forward to an exciting match because Yanga have also prepared well to counter our assaults.”

Pluijm (pictured) expressed respect for the 2012 Kagame Cup finalists, saying the match will be evenly contested.

“I can’t promise victory because this is soccer, what I can promise is an entertaining match. My players are ready for the showdown,” the Dutchman said. His captain, Nadir Haroub said they were psychologically sound heading into the match, but warned his teammates over the threat that Azam pose.

“Azam is a good side with quality players and a good coach. They pose a serious threat, so we must not take them for granted,” he said. “But neither are we poor. In fact playing against Azam is a good motivation because we want to beat them.”