Mainland Premier League defending champions, Young Africans, will aim at putting their campaign back on track when they face Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
It will be a must win assignment for Yanga, who endured a rather disappointing start to their campaign, winning only one match, drew three and lost one. Yanga will come into the match fresh from the memories of a 3-2 defeat to last season’s runners-up Azam FC at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday. A last gasp goal by youthful substitute, Joseph Kimwaga gave Azam a crucial victory.
Striker John Bocco and Kipre Tchethe scored other goals for Azam, while Didier Kavumbagu and Hamisi Kiiza were on the score sheet for Yanga. Dutch coach Ernie Brandts slammed his team’s poor defending after they lost their first match of the season but he must be optimistic for the rest of the season because his side outplayed Azam.
His side will be charged up with the availability of wing wizard, Mrisho Ngassa, who is likely to be involved in the match today after serving a six-match ban for double registration. Ngassa also paid in full a total of 45m/- to the TFF as a refund to Simba on Friday.
Ngassa was ordered to refund Simba after it was also established that the player had signed for Simba and took 30m/- while knowing that he still had a valid contract with Azam FC. In addition, Ngasa was also ordered to pay Simba another 15m/-, as 50 per cent of signing fee compensation.
Ngassa available for selection today
His presence higher up the pitch today would definitely spark flurry of attacks as he will team up with another speedy winger, Simon Msuva, while central striking force will comprise the partnership of Burundian Didier Kavumbagu and Jerryson Tegete.Yanga will be without promising midfielder, Salum Telela, who picked an injury during their league match against Prisons at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya about two weeks ago.
Telela scored the lone goal when Yanga inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Azam FC in a Charity Shield encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on August 18, this year. However, Brandts is expected to field Rwandan playmaker – Haruna Niyonzima, who will partner in the midfield with the likes of Athumani Iddi ‘Chuji,’ Frank Domayo and Nizar Khalfan.
He is also likely to maintain the back four of Ally Mustafa, Mbuyu Twite, David Luhende, Kelvin Yondani and Nadir Haroub Ally and the tactician will be hoping that they hit back their form after goal in all previous five matches.
“There is a bit lack of concentration in our defending…it’s bad that we’ve conceded goals in all five league matches so far. We really need to check the way we defend because at the moment we’re giving away to easy goals,” Brandts said shortly after the match against Azam.
It will definitely be a challenging task for Yanga because Ruvu Shooting who currently sit fourth on the table on nine points will also be seeking to climb up the ladder. The army team is aware that a victory today would likely push them on top of the table.
Other matches will see Rhino Rangers playing host to Kagera Sugar at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium in Tabora, Mbeya City will host Coastal Union at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya, while Mgambo JKT will have a date with JKT Oljoro at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.
Tomorrow, league leaders Simba will face second placed JKT Ruvu at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Ashanti United will entertain Mtibwa Sugar at the Azam Complex in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, while Prisons will take on Azam FC at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya.
Source Tanzania Daily News
