Blow for Yanga ahead of Azam tie

Dar es Salaam. Mainland giants Young Africans suffered a blow ahead of their Community Shield clash with Azam FC after it was revealed a number of their key players have been hit by illness.

Three players, including team captain Nadir “Cannavaro” Haroub, are reported to be suffering from malaria, and the Jangwani Street team’s head coach, Hans Van Pluijm, confirmed yesterday that the trio was ‘slightly ill.’ In an interview with The Citizen, Pluijm attempted to play the issue down, saying the affected players only had ‘sore throats’

“It’s not that bad at the moment. I don’t want to over-dramatise it,” he said. But given the number of players who may not feature for his team in Saturday’s match at the National Stadium, there are concerns that the issue may be more serious than the Dutchman is letting on.

Besides Haroub, the other first team players likely to miss the anxiously awaited clash are striker Amis Tambwe and Oscar Joshua. Zimbabwean forward Donald Ngoma, who joined the Mainland champions nearly two months ago, may also miss the curtain-raiser for the 2015/16 league season.

Ngoma is still nursing a knee injury he sustained during last week’s pre-season match against Tanzania Prisons in Mbeya. “Haroub complained of feeling unwell before our friendly match against Prisons in Mbeya but the illness was only diagnosed on Sunday,” the coach said.

“He (Cannavaro) underwent light training for a few minutes today (yesterday), while Tambwe, Ngoma and Joshua did not attend the training,” he added.

But when it was suggested to one Azam FC official that the Kagame Cecafa Cup champions would therefore be facing a weakened side (Yanga), he accused their opponents of trying to play ‘mind games.’

Azam head coach Stewart Hall, whose men floored Yanga in the Cecafa Kagame Cup quarter-finals, is relishing taking on Pluijm’s team again but admits they face a stiff test.

“I’ve got to make sure I pick the right team, that’s the biggest challenge,” said the Briton, who guided the ice cream makers to their first regional trophy a few weeks ago. He said he was aware of Yanga’s “strengths” and admitted it will be especially tough to beat them twice in nearly one month.

“Fans should expect a nail-biting encounter. The atmosphere will be absolutely fantastic at the National Stadium on Saturday,” he said.

Azam, who finished runners-up last season, have been camping in Zanzibar since last week preparing for the Community Shield game and this season’s Mainland Premier League.