Yanga open four-point lead
Yanga SC midfielder Salum Telela (left) battles for the ball with Mgambo JKT defender Salum Mlima during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday. Yanga won 2-1. PHOTO | SAID KHAMIS
What you need to know:
Young Africans have opened a four-point lead at the top of the Vodacom Premier League after earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mgambo JKT at the National Stadium yesterday.
Dar es Salaam. Young Africans have opened a four-point lead at the top of the Vodacom Premier League after earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mgambo JKT at the National Stadium yesterday.
The Hans van der Pluijm’s men lead the 16-team log with 62 points after 25 matches followed by Azam FC with 58. Azam, who are smarting from the CAF Confederation disappointment, mauled Majimaji FC 2-0 at the Azam Complex to keep pace with Yanga in the hunt for the prestigious title.
Simba SC now slip to the third position with 57 points and have a tough match against Azam that will decide who challenges Yanga down to the wire. Azam and Simba clash on Sunday at the National Stadium while Yanga will be in Mwanza for a date against Toto Africans who are inching closer to safety.
At the National Stadium, visitors Mgambo JKT silenced Yanga’s cheering fans in the fourth minute when Bolly Shaibu planted the ball home off Nassor Gumbo’s clever pass. Two minutes later, Gumbo almost doubled the advantage after dispossessing Salum Telela in the area, but Yanga goalie Deo Munishi superb job to deny him. Yanga’s right back Juma Abdul failed to continue after picking an injury and his place was taken by Mbuyu Twite.
The home side had to wait until the 43rd minute to celebrate an equaliser. Deus Kaseke slotted home, completing a pass from Amissi Tambwe.
The second half was equally contested, but after several near misses by both sides, it Yanga who nicked the victory with 18 minutes left to the time. Kaseke scored his second of the match, latching onto a rebound to make the scoreboard read 2-1 in favour of the defending champions.
At the Azam Complex, the hosts needed second half goals to secure maximum points with both goals coming from Mudadhir Yahya who scored in the 49th and 61st minutes.
Yanga: Deo Munishi, Juma Abdul/Mbuyu Twite (20), Oscar Joshua, Kevin Yondani, Nadir Haroub, Salum Telela, Simon Msuva, Haruna Niyonzima/Thabani Kamusoko (72), Paul Nonga/Donald Ngoma (46), Amissi Tambwe and Deus Kaseke.
Mgambo JKT: Said Hamisi, Salum Mlima, Chande Magoja, Henry Chacha, Bakari Mtama, Salum Kipaga, Nassor Gumbo/Ally Nassor (79), Mohammed Samatta, Herbert Lukindo, Bolly Shaibu na Salum Aziz Gilla.
