Yanga out to hit CAF ground running

Yanga jetted off yesterday morning to Moroni in time for the first leg clash at the Stade de Moroni. A total of 20 players and eight members of the technical bench plus two officials left ahead of the match.

The club’s General Secretary, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, told journalists on Friday that seven players have not been included in the list of 30-strong contingent to Moroni due to various reasons. Zimbabwean striker Donald Ngoma and defender Vincent Bossou have not been included in the trip to Comoro.

He said Zimbabwean striker, Ngoma and Malimi Busungu will not travel with the team because they are sick, while defender Vincent Andrew is serving three yellow cards suspension picked last year during the CAF Confederation Cup campaign. Togolese central defender, Bossou, holding midfielder, Pat Ngonyani and goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya will also not make the trip and will wait for the return leg encounter.

In Ngoma’s absence, Yanga Head Coach George Lwandamina will look to fellow country-mate youngster Obrey Chirwa who will partner Burundian striker Amissi Tambwe to find the back of the net against the islanders.

In central defence, skipper Nadir Haroub is expected to be restored to partner Kelvin Yondani, while Juma Abdul and Haji Mwinyi will complete the back four to protect goalkeeper Deogratius Munishi. Zimbabwean Thaban Kamusoko and gifted Rwandese Haruna Niyonzima will take control of the midfield.

The Jangwani Street side will target to better their last season performance, where they were eliminated in the second round by Egyptian side Al Ahly 3-2 on aggregate before dropping to the CAF Confederation Cup where they fell short in the group stages finishing fourth in Group B.

Lwandamina’s side will be eyeing nothing but a clear victory against the dark horse to put themselves in a comfortable zone in the return leg match at home. Yanga are scheduled to face their opponents in the return leg match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam two weeks later.

Niyonzima said, “We learnt a lot from last year’s edition of the Champions League. Now we know that it is important for us to start well especially because we are playing away first.”

“We do not know much about the team but we shall be looking to get the best result which is a win and if that does not happen, at least we should get a draw so that we do not have a lot of pressure in the return leg” he said. Yanga were expected to attend light training session yesterday evening at the venue where the match will be played.

Last year, Yanga defeated Cercle de Joachim from Mauritius 3-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round and will be hoping to avoid a shocker in Sunday’s match. Should Yanga progress to the next round, they will face the aggregate winner of another preliminary tie between Rwanda’s APR and Zanaco of Zambia in the first round match in March, this year.

The overall winner of the twolegged match will proceed into the tournament’s group stage.