Yanga face Tabora United without three key players
What you need to know:
- The Jangwani Street giants will face tough opposition, as Tabora United also seek a win to improve their position in the league standings.
Dar es Salaam. After their first defeat to Azam FC, defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) aim to bounce back today, November 7, 2024, as they face Tabora United at the Azam Complex from 6 pm in the ongoing Tanzania Mainland Premier League.
Yanga’s nine-match unbeaten run was halted by Azam FC, who claimed a 1-0 victory on November 2 at the Azam Complex.
The Jangwani Street giants will face tough opposition, as Tabora United also seek a win to improve their position in the league standings.
However, Yanga will miss three key players due to various reasons: Dickson Job and Ibrahim “Bacca” Hamad, who are serving bans due to bookings, and Kouassi Attohoula Yao, who is nursing an injury.
Tabora United currently sit in seventh place with 14 points from 10 matches.
A victory over Yanga would raise their tally to 17 points in the 16-team league.
However, records show that Tabora United have yet to win a match against Yanga in previous seasons.
The “Bees” lost 1-0 to Yanga in their first encounter last season at Dodoma’s Jamhuri Stadium on December 23, 2023, and later fell 3-0 in the return match at the Azam Complex on May 25 this year.
In the CRDB Federation Cup, Yanga also secured a 3-0 win in a match played at the Azam Complex on May 1.
Yanga, meanwhile, need a win to continue their title defense, while Tabora United seek to avenge previous losses to the Jangwani Street giants.
In their past five matches, Yanga have recorded four wins and one loss, while Tabora United have registered two wins, one draw, and two losses.
Yanga’s head coach, Miguel Gamondi, stated that they are not underestimating Tabora United and are taking the match seriously.
"We have been preparing since our match against Azam FC. We’ve corrected our mistakes, and I believe my players will perform their best to win," said Gamondi.
He added that they have prepared tactical options to secure the win, despite facing teams that often prefer a defensive approach.
Tabora United’s assistant coach, Khalfan Mbonde, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness to face Yanga, despite recently competing against one of the toughest teams in the league.
Mbonde emphasized that Tabora United have performed admirably so far, and their primary goal is to secure three crucial points to elevate their position in the standings.
