Yanga, Gamondi respond to 'decline in performance' claims in style

Why does this phenomenon occur? The sheer popularity of Yanga and Simba means that even a small percentage of Tanzanians engaging in a discussion can be deemed a success.

In the realm of social media, where anyone can voice an opinion, any narrative that contradicts the status quo or ignites controversy quickly garners attention.

This is why we are constantly bombarded with stories and debates about these two clubs.

One of the more persistent topics has been the supposed decline in Yanga’s performance.

Frankly, this discourse often lacks a solid foundation and overlooks crucial context.

Critics seem to focus on Yanga’s narrower victories while disregarding the broader picture.

Last season, Yanga dominated and clinched the championship early, allowing them to treat their final matches as mere formalities.

This success provided players with opportunities to focus on individual achievements, such as Stephane Aziz Ki, who celebrated winning the goal-scoring title on the season’s final day.

On that day, Ki was not merely pursuing personal milestones; he was propelled by the support of fans and the coach's strategies, ultimately finishing the season with an impressive tally of 21 goals.

However, this season, he has expressed a desire to shift his focus from personal glory to team success, reveling in the arrival of Prince Dube, whom he believes will shoulder the scoring burden.

The narrative surrounding Yanga's alleged decline also unfairly targets Aziz Ki, who is accused of not scoring enough this season despite the club having three capable forwards: Clement Mzize, Kennedy Musonda and Jean Baleke.

It’s simply illogical to assert that a team is in decline when they continue to win matches.

If a team struggles to secure wins or draws, then yes, it might be viewed as a decline.

Yet, those teams that grapple to win yet ultimately succeed are suddenly considered improved.

This contradictory logic is bewildering. Take Singida Black Stars, for example; they went unbeaten for a time yet were perceived as underperforming.

If Yanga's narrow victories indicate a downturn, what does that say about teams consistently losing?

Yanga’s first loss of the season—a narrow 1-0 defeat to Azam FC—may temporarily lend credence to those proclaiming their decline.

This defeat resulted from a first-half goal by Gibril Sila. The goal followed a red card shown to Yanga’s defender Ibrahim Bacca for a foul on Azam’s Nassor Hamoud Saadun.

For nearly 70 minutes, Yanga played a man down, yet the impact on the field was not as pronounced as one might expect.

READ: Why ‘challenges are not yet over’ for Yanga’s competitors in Tanzanian soccer

At times, it appeared that Azam was the team struggling, with their goalkeeper even receiving a yellow card for time-wasting.

Yanga's attacking strategy, including tactical adjustments and ball possession—elements that should have favored Azam—were instead executed by the team that was short-handed.

They created numerous clear chances against Azam’s goal, effectively countering the narrative that Yanga was in decline.

An observer who entered the match in the 50th minute, unaware of the first-half events, might not have recognized that one player was missing from either team.

They might even conclude that Azam was the one facing challenges.

This serves as a vital lesson for analysts who engage in discussions without adequate data or a nuanced understanding of a team’s situation.

If critics remain obstinate, they will continue to base their arguments on superficial statistics, which fail to capture the true essence of the game or the quality of a team.

It’s crucial to remember that a team can take many shots from midfield, and while the ball might reach the goal, it could be counted as “on-target” despite being unable to penetrate the opponent's defenses.

If that game ends in a draw, some analysts might mistakenly declare the team with more “on-target” shots as the superior side.

Our discussions must focus on illuminating the realities of the sport, rather than simply reiterating what’s happening with Simba and Yanga.

Following trivial matters about these clubs—merely because they attract a large audience—detracts from a deeper understanding of the game and fosters a culture of ignorance.

Players like Yusuf Kagoma, Saadun, and Adolph Mutasingwa excelled last season, yet discussions rarely highlight their contributions unless they are linked to Simba or Yanga. Why is this the case? Because they aren’t part of the “big two.”

Kagoma initially captured attention at the start of the season due to his transfer to Simba, while Saadun, Mutasingwa, and others will only be mentioned when Azam FC faces off against Simba or Yanga.

Even when Silla scored a spectacular goal last season, the discourse surrounding it didn’t match the enthusiasm that would accompany a goal from Aziz Ki, Pacome Zouzoua, or Kibu Dennis.

The recognition should go to the award panel for acknowledging his talent.

READ: Four challenging tasks facing Yanga’s Gamondi next season

Popularity and engagement should not merely stem from discussing well-known teams but rather from the quality of analysis and discourse within our platforms.

Let’s not oversimplify matters in our pursuit of attention by fixating on Simba and Yanga.

If we continue down this path, teams, coaches, and players will respond on the pitch, just as Yanga and their coach Miguel Gamondi did on Saturday—playing with ten men yet delivering a performance that matched or even surpassed that of their complete opponents.