How tough decisions changed Yanga’s course in the 2023/24 season

Dar es Salaam. Following Young Africans SC (Yanga)’s shakeup in the previous season, the club’s president, Eng Hersi Said, along with the club's chief sponsor, Ghalib Said Mohammed 'GSM', had to make a difficult decision about the team.

They started by bringing in new technical bench staff led by head coach Miguel Gamondi from Argentina and several star players such as Pacome Zouzoua, Yao Kouassi, and Maxi Nzengeli.

Now Yanga have become the Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions again.

They have won the title for the third consecutive time, continuing their dominance on a journey that had its ups and downs.

Yanga has claimed the title with a somewhat different look compared to the past two seasons, having undergone various changes in how they started this 2023/24 season and even in the formation of their team.

Remember, this is their 30th championship, making them the historic champions of the league.

10 left out as Nabi, assistants leave

At the end of last season, Yanga was met with the shocking news that their technical bench, led by head coach Nasreddine Nabi and his four assistants, was leaving.

This included assistant coach Cedric Kaze, fitness coach Helmy Gueldich, goalkeeping trainer Milton Nienov, and video analyst Khalili Ben Yousef, who joined the coach as he moved to FAR Rabat.

Aside from the technical bench, Yanga also lost 10 players on different occasions, including Feisal Salum ‘Fei Toto’ and versatile defender Yannick Bangala, both of whom were sold to Azam FC.

Their top scorer of the season, Fiston Mayele, was sold to Pyramids in Egypt.

Others who left include midfielder Gael Bigirimana, defender Djuma Shaban, who had his contract terminated, defenders Abdallah Shaibu ‘Ninja’, David Bryson, Mamadou Doumbia, wingers Dickson Ambundo, Bernard Morrison, and goalkeeper Erick Johola.

Seven signed as new technical bench set up

After the departure of several key individuals, fans of the team were understandably anxious about the upcoming season.

However, the leadership of Yanga, under the stewardship of their president, Engineer Hersi Said, swiftly moved to address these concerns.

In collaboration with their sponsor, Ghalib Said Mohammed, 'GSM', they introduced a new coaching staff.

This transformation began with the appointment of Miguel Gamondi, an Argentine national, as the head coach.

Gamondi came with his assistants, Mussa N’dew from Senegal as the assistant coach, Taibi Lagrouni as the midfield coach, Alaa Meskini as the goalkeeper coach, all from Morocco, and Mpho Maruping as the video analyst.

After the storm had settled down for those who left the club, Yanga had to bring in seven new players into their squad.

They included defenders Nickson Kibabage, Yao Akouassi, and Gift Fred, midfielders Pacome Zouzoua, Jonas Mkude, and Maxi Nzengeli, along with striker Hafiz Konkon.

How the community shield was lost

Yanga started the season with a shock, losing their first title early in the Community Shield matches.

The tournament, which involved four teams, was played in the semi-final stage, with Yanga facing Azam FC and winning 2-0.

The defending champions of the Mainland Premier League title for the third consecutive season had successfully retained the title for two consecutive seasons.

However, they recently lost the Community Shield final to Simba, falling 3-1 on penalties after the match ended in a draw during regulation time.

However, losing the Community Shield seemed to be a wake-up call to them, and they began the Premiership campaign with a bang, securing victories in 15 matches of the first round and sitting at the top of the table with 40 points.

They won 13 matches, drew one, and lost one, scoring 36 goals and conceding only eight.

Tactical change

Yanga's performance was fueled by significant changes within the team due to Coach Gamondi's new philosophies, which elevated the team's quality and stamina.

They played with strength and a more enjoyable style, scoring more goals compared to the previous season under Nabi.

 Mini transfer window

In the mini-transfer window, Yanga parted ways with three players: winger Lucapel Moloko and strikers Konkon and Crispin Ngushi, who were loaned to Coastal Union.

They were replaced by striker Joseph Guede, midfielder Shekhan Hamis, and winger Augustine Okrah.

International impact

In the outgoing season, Yanga had a lot to manage due to their return to the Champions League.

This followed their impressive performance in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they reached the final but ultimately lost to USM Alger of Algeria, who clinched the championship on the away goal rule.

Many were eager to see how far Yanga would go in the CAF Champions League, especially after many years of failing to even reach the group stage or the quarterfinals.

Yanga did their best and secured a position in the group stage before ending up in the quarters, where they came very close to knocking out Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

The momentum from the Champions League results seemed to propel Yanga into the Premiership as well, as they had a strong winning streak.

 The midfielders season

Apart from the excellence of their solid defence, which allowed only 14 goals, making them the team that conceded the fewest goals, significant quality was also displayed by their midfielders.

In the just-concluded season, Yanga was mainly supported by the goals scored by midfielder Stephanie Aziz KI, who emerged as the league's top scorer with 21 goals.

Behind him, there is Nzengeli with 11 goals, Mudathir Yahya (9 goals), and Pacome Zouzoua with 7 goals, while the forwards were led by Joseph Guede with six goals.

 Clinching the title 3 games away

Yanga secured the Tanzania Mainland Premier League title this season by defeating Mtibwa Sugar 3-1 away, collecting 71 points with three matches left before the end of the league, a tally no other team could reach.

 Five-five doses

This season, no team managed to avoid defeat by Yanga.

Players of KMC, JKT Tanzania, Simba, and Ihefu will live to remember the 2023/24 season as the Premiership champions under Gamondi, who walloped each of the team five goals.

No other team apart from Yanga was able to win by such a margin in as many matches as Yanga did.

 New record

Yanga has set a record by scoring the most goals (71), a feat unmatched by any other team in a single season since the 16-team system was introduced.

Additionally, they have set a record by amassing 80 points, the highest ever collected.

They deserved to win the title

The excellence that Yanga demonstrated this season clearly shows that the team deserved this success as champions due to the quality of their squad and their on-field results.

All of this is a result of the excellence of their players and their coaching staff.