Yanga depart for South Africa without Key midfielder Pacome Zouzoua
Yanga's Ivorian midfielder Pacome Zouzoua in action during training for the new season. Pacome was not part of the squad that departed for South Africa today, July 18, 2024, for pre-season friendlies. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Pacome was not seen at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA Terminal 3), and efforts by The Citizen to get clarification proved futile.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions, Young Africans (Yanga), departed on July 18, 2024, without their key attacking midfielder, Pacome Zouzoua.
Pacome was not seen at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA Terminal 3), and efforts by The Citizen to get clarification proved futile.
However, one of the team’s officials said that some players would join the team in South Africa later.
"I do not know if Pacome is still here in the country as other players have departed to South Africa. Let me follow up, but what I know is that some players will join the team later due to unavoidable reasons. I cannot reveal the names," said the source.
Yanga will play three matches while in South Africa. The first match will be against Bundesliga side Augsburg on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at the Mbombela Stadium in the Mpumalanga province at 4 pm Tanzanian time.
The fixture shows that after the Yanga match, TS Galaxy FC, also known as The Rockets, will face the Eswatini Premier League champions, Mbabane Swallows FC, at 9 pm Tanzanian time.
Their second match will be against South Africa’s Premier League team, TS Galaxy, on July 24 at the same venue.
The Yanga-TS Galaxy tie will be held behind closed doors, with no fans allowed to attend.
The matches will be televised live by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, which has signed an agreement with TS Galaxy FC.
Additionally, Yanga will face Kaizer Chiefs on July 28 in a special tournament dubbed the Toyota Cup.
“These matches are crucial for Yanga players, including new signings such as Clatous Chama, Prince Dube, and Jean Baleke, to showcase their skills ahead of the next Tanzania Mainland Premier League season,” said Yanga’s information officer, Ally Kamwe.
Besides Chama, Dube, and Baleke, Yanga’s list of new players includes goalkeeper Khomeini Abubakar, Aziz Andambwile from Fountain Gate FC, left-back Shadrack Boka from FC Lupopo of DR Congo, and Dube Abuya from Singida Big Stars.
The new recruits join other notable players such as Stephane Aziz Ki, Djigui Diara, Kennedy Musonda, Kouassi Attohoula Yao, Khalid Aucho, Bakari Mwamnyeto, Dickson Job, Ibrahim Hamad, Mudathir Yahya, and Clement Mzize.
Also on the list are Farid Mussa, Salum “Sure Boy” Abubakar, Jonas Mkude, Kibwana Shomari, Shekhan Ibrahim Hamis, Aboutwalib Mshery, and Dennis Nkane.
This tournament will offer Young Africans an opportunity to test their mettle in international competitions, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
FC Augsburg will be making history by holding their first-ever summer training camp outside Europe. They will be in South Africa from July 18 to 28.
The matches mark a nostalgic return for Yanga's attacking midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki, whose goal was disallowed against Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal match last season.
The incident occurred on April 5, 2024, during a tense match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
Aziz Ki has since attracted the attention of many teams on the continent, especially South African and North African teams.
