Five key factors that helped Yanga clinch the Tanzania Mainland Premier League title

As Yanga celebrate their victory in the 2023/2024 Premier League championship, which they clinched on May 13 by defeating Mtibwa Sugar 3-1, we are bringing you insights into what contributed to their success.

In addition to their league triumph, the giants are also setting their sights on the Federation Cup (FA), where they have advanced to the semi-finals.

Yanga fans are currently striding with pride, their heads held high, as they revel in their third consecutive victory and the first under Coach Miguel Gamondi, who guided them this season to the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League for the very first time.

Five key factors that have predominantly contributed to the Wananchi team, based in the Jangwani Street in Dar es Salaam to make history by clinching their 30th championship since the club's formation 89 years ago;

Goal Scoring

In the Gamondi-led Yanga, a greater number of players were afforded opportunities to score goals, a notable shift from the previous season when Fiston Mayele was heavily relied upon for scoring goals.

Despite having talented centre-forwards like Clement Mzize (with five goals), Joseph Guede (with six goals), and Kennedy Musonda (with three goals), Gamondi has been more supported by the midfield led by Stephane Aziz Ki with 18 goals, Max Nzengeli with 10 goals and Mudathiri Yahya with nine goals, and Pacome Zouzoua with seven.

In terms of their defence, full-back Kouassi Attohoula 'Yao' has seven assists (the highest among defenders), Nickson Kibabage with four, while their central defenders, Dickson Job and Bakari Mwamnyeto, each scored once besides their primary duty of defending.

Solid Defence

Former Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson famously stated that "defenders win titles while attackers win games," emphasizing the crucial role of defenders in securing championships. This sentiment holds true for Yanga, as the contribution of their defenders has been instrumental in their success.

Yanga's defence, formed by goalkeeper Djigui Diarra and defenders Yao, Joyce Lomalisa, Kibabage, Kibwana Shomary, Ibrahim Hamad 'Bacca', Mwamnyeto, Gift Fred, has helped the team remain secure. Yanga are a team that conceded the fewest goals (13).

Discussing the significant contribution of Yanga's defenders this season, former Yanga star Nadir Haroub 'Cannavaro' said, "Although there were some minor mistakes, overall they performed well. Hamad, Job, and even Mwamnyeto did their best in the defence."

 Squad Choice

During periods when other coaches grappled with the challenges posed by a congested fixture schedule, Gamondi showcased his managerial prowess by effectively rotating players.

This strategic approach not only provided necessary rest to key individuals but also ensured that the team remained competitive across multiple competitions.

A prime illustration occurred in April when Yanga faced the demanding task of playing six matches across three distinct competitions: the CAF Champions League return leg against Mamelodi Sundowns, an FA Cup encounter against Dodoma Jiji FC, and Premier League fixtures against Singida FG, Simba, JK Tanzania, and Coastal Union.

Throughout this challenging stretch of matches, Yanga remained unbeaten.

However, their journey in the CAF Champions League came to an end under controversial circumstances as they were eliminated by South Africa’s Masandawana (Mamelodi Sundowns) on penalties.

They defeated Dodoma Jiji FC 2-0 in the FA Cup, and earned 10 out of 12 points in four consecutive league matches.

They managed to do all this without Pacome and even Yao as both picked up injuries in March during the league match against Azam FC.

 Big Matches

Winning duels when playing against your title contenders is crucial for a team aiming for the championship, and Yanga have done that.

With one match remaining to play against each team, this season Yanga has secured 14 points ahead of Simba and scored 11 goals more. They also recorded three points against Azam in the first leg by winning 3-2.

However, the wealthy Chamazi club exerted themselves in the second leg, taking revenge by winning 2-1.

Moreover, Yanga this season have the record of defeating all 15 teams in the league. If any team managed to escape in the first leg, they faced defeat in the second leg. A good example is that of Kagera Sugar FC, with whom they drew in the first leg, but feated 1-0 at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

  Coaching Staff

Without stability in the coaching staff, it's hard for a team to achieve their goals. Gamondi's stability and cooperation with his coaching staff have significantly contributed to Yanga’s clinching of the league title for the 30th time.

How? Apart from Gamondi's tactics on the field and how he prepared the team, during the game, Mpho Maruping, a video analyst, follows and communicates directly with the coaching staff.

The South African uses a special device to communicate with the manager, Walter Harrison, to provide advice based on match statistics. His messages are relayed to Gamondi.

 Conclusion

These five factors have played a crucial role in Yanga's success this season, securing them their 30th league title.