Nine records after Yanga’s defeat

Dar es Salaam. A 3-1 victory by Tabora United over Yanga on Thursday at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam has marked notable achievements and set several records for both teams.

Tabora United’s goals in the match were scored by Ofen Chikola, who netted twice, while Nelson Munganga added another. Yanga’s sole goal came from Clement Mzize.

First, with this victory, Tabora United secured its first-ever Premier League win against Yanga, ending Yanga's dominant record over them. Previously, Yanga had defeated them in both of their prior encounters.

Secondly, the result marked Tabora United’s first time winning three consecutive Premier League matches since their promotion last season, setting a new milestone for the club.

Third, it has been 1,759 days (four years, nine months, and 24 days) since Yanga last conceded three goals in a single Premier League match, making this a rare occurrence.

Fourth, before Tabora United, the last team to score three goals against Yanga was Kagera Sugar, who won 3-0 at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on January 15, 2020.

Fifth, this is Yanga’s first season in four years to lose two consecutive Premier League games, a setback last seen in the 2019/2020 season, when they fell 3-0 to Kagera Sugar followed by a 1-0 loss to Azam FC.

Sixth, after three seasons of early dominance, Yanga has, for the first time, dropped six points within the first 10 games of the season, a trend they last experienced in the 2020/2021 season.

Seventh, in the opening 10 games of the 2020/2021 season, Yanga dropped six points from three draws against Simba (1-1), Tanzania Prisons (1-1), and Gwambina (0-0), while winning their remaining seven matches.

Eighth, Yanga goalkeeper Djigui Diarra allowed three goals in a single league game for the first time since joining the club in 2021.

Ninth, the match marked the first time Yanga has conceded three goals at the Azam Complex, a venue where they had never previously allowed such a high score in any competition.

Gamondi’s comments

Speaking about the outcome, Yanga Coach Miguel Gamondi accepted responsibility for the loss, though he acknowledged that missing key players may have contributed to the team’s defeat.

"I have no excuses; when the team wins, everyone is happy, but when it loses, it’s the coach’s responsibility. I am accountable for the loss," Mr Gamondi said.

"We have played six matches within 21 days, including travelling, which I raised concerns about even before our match against Black Stars. It’s challenging for us, but we need to be patient," he added.

Yanga now shifts focus to their upcoming CAF Champions League fixture against Al Hilal, scheduled for November 28 in Dar es Salaam.