Yanga in reckoning as CAF Cup exit beckons

Dar es Salaam. All eyes and ears of football lovers in the country will be directed to the National Stadium when Tanzania’s only representative in international competitions, Young Africans, clash with Gor Mahia of Kenya in a crucial CAF Confederation Cup match today.

The match has been scheduled to kick-off from 7pm and Young Africans need victory in order to revive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter finals of the tournament.

The Jangwani giants are currently placed at the bottom of Group D with one point after playing three matches. The team has conceded eight goals and is yet to score a goal in all its encounters.

Today’s encounter is a make or break match as the Dar es Salaam team needs nothing short of maximum points to remain in the hunt for a place in the next stage or bid farewell to their continental ambitions. Their poor form has further been affected by financial problems that saw players boycott training sessions over unpaid bonuses after the 4-0 loss to Gor Mahia in Nairobi few days ago.

Yanga’s DR Congo-born coach, Mwinyi Zahera, who joined the Jangwani-based outfit two months ago, is hoping his charges can revive their campaign with victory against their Kenyan rivals in spite of their problems.

“Our plans are in tatters because we could not train for almost five days because of economic hardships facing the club as players were demanding their salaries and signing-on fees. It has been very hard for us,” he lamented.

“We know that this game against Gor Mahia is our only chance to revive hopes of going through to the next stage. It is a must-win game and we need to work hard to make it happen,” said Zahera.

Yanga resumed training last Wednesday after days of boycott but Zahera believes that they can get the better of Gor Mahia if they remain fully concentrated. The match is scheduled to start from 7pm and will be officiated by Mauritius referees Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall who will take charge of proceedings on the pitch and assistants Cauvelet Louis Ralph Fabien and Akhtar Nawaz Rossaye.

“Gor Mahia is a good team and we have to be ready for them...but looking at our condition we cannot promise anything more,” he said.

Yanga has been in an unfamiliar form since the departure of Zambian trainer George Lwandamina last April, with only a win to show in 15 matches.

However, the team’s players’ morale is very high, following African Football governing body CAF’s move to clear its two players. The players are Deus Kaseke who rejoined the club from Singida United and Matheo Anthony who was not included in the Caf list originally.