Azam coach reflects on friendly loss to Mtibwa Sugar

MOROGORO: AZAM FC’s 1-0 defeat to Mtibwa Sugar in a recent friendly match has provided head coach Rachid Taoussi with crucial insights into areas needing improvement as the team prepares for the resumption of the Mainland Premier League next month.

The match, held at the Manungu Stadium in Morogoro, saw Raizin Hafidh score the only goal in the 78th minute from a spot kick.

However, despite the loss, Taoussi remained positive, viewing the match as an important opportunity for assessment and growth for his side.

“Losing doesn’t mean we are not good as we faced a team that employed the right tactics to punish us and I’m happy because it presented a valuable challenge for us,” Taoussi disclosed.

The coach also acknowledged that his squad, recently returned from a break was still working to regain full competitive form.

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He emphasised that the loss came at an opportune moment, allowing the team to identify and address mistakes before the league resumes.

“Though we lost, this defeat gives us the right moment to go back to the drawing table and correct our mistakes that led to it and everyone can see what needs to be improved. We will continue working hard, and we still have another friendly match before the league resumes,” he said.

He also praised Mtibwa Sugar for providing a tough test allowing Azam FC to assess their readiness for the challenges ahead.

“We have played against a very strong team that has given us the right test to prepare for the upcoming competitions as our players are improving every day, and we are focused on performing well in both the league and the FA Cup,” he said.

Currently sitting in third place in the Mainland Premier League, Azam FC has accumulated 36 points from 16 matches.

They are just four points behind league leaders Simba, who have 40 points from 15 games, and second-place Yanga, who also have 39 points from 15 matches.