Will Yanga’s winning streak survive Coastal Union test?
What you need to know:
- The highly anticipated match kicks off at 4pm, with both sides eager to secure maximum points to boost their standings on the league table.
Dar es Salaam. Mainland Premier League giants Young Africans (Yanga) face a stern test today as they take on Coastal Union of Tanga at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam.
The highly anticipated match kicks off at 4pm, with both sides eager to secure maximum points to boost their standings on the league table.
Today’s fixture promises to be a thrilling clash, with Coastal Union seeking revenge against the reigning champions.
Yanga currently sit at the summit of the league table with 61 points from 23 matches, while Coastal Union occupy 12th place with 25 points from 24 matches.
A win for Yanga would see them widen the gap between themselves and their arch-rivals, Simba SC, who are in second place with 57 points from 22 games.
On the other hand, a victory for Coastal Union would take them to 28 points, potentially allowing them to leapfrog three teams: Pamba (11th with 26 points from 25 matches), KMC (10th with 27 points from 24 matches), and Mashujaa (9th with 27 points from 24 matches).
Yanga also boast a dominant head-to-head record against Coastal Union. Since 2011, the two sides have clashed 24 times in all competitions, with Yanga winning 16 matches, Coastal Union claiming just three victories, and five encounters ending in draws.
In their most recent meeting on March 12 this year, Yanga defeated Coastal Union 3-1 in the CRDB Federation Cup match held at the same venue.
Earlier, on October 26 last year, Yanga secured a 1-0 win in a Mainland Premier League encounter at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium, courtesy of a goal by Jean Baleke.
Yanga’s Algerian-French head coach, Miloud Hamdi, emphasized the importance of maintaining their winning momentum.
“We need to stay focused because we are facing one of the toughest teams in the league. We’ve prepared well and are confident that we’ll perform at our best,” said Hamdi.
Meanwhile, Coastal Union’s asistant coach, Joseph Lazaro, stated that his team is fully prepared and aiming for a strong performance despite the challenge ahead.
“It will be a tough match, but my players have trained intensively. I believe they will rise to the occasion,” said Mwambusi.
He added that team morale is high, and he is confident his players will give their all in the crucial fixture.
