Nabi: Tight fixture hurts Yanga

YOUNG Africans Head Coach Nasreddine Nabi said playing three games in six days is unhealthy to players as Geita Gold trainer Felix Minziro labels fatigue for the loss.

Yanga claimed a slim 1-0 victory over Geita Gold at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza over the weekend to cement their stay at the top of the NBC Premier League with 20 points after eight-game onslaught.

A controversial penalty by Bernard Morrison was enough to give them the vital away win as they intensify a campaign to defend the Premier League silverware.

“We played a traditional derby against Simba on October 23rd and today (Saturday) is 29th meaning that we have played three matches in six days…they were all tense matches and nobody can withstand that pressure.

“To make it worse, today’s (Saturday) match compelled us to travel and we are also going back Dar es Salaam for the important CAF Confederation Cup match on Wednesday.

“I think this game against Geita Gold has reduced our energy prior to the Confederation Cup duel. We represent Tanzania and I think they (Tanzania Premier League Board) should create friendly fixtures to give enough space of preparations,” he said.

Adding, Nabi disclosed that their Tunisian opponent (Club Africain) have not played their two league games as one way to enable them have ample time to prepare for Yanga encounter.

He also backed performances of Heritier Makambo and center-back Ibrahim Bacca saying despite being illegulars in the first eleven, they have performed well in recent matches they played.

On his part, Minziro said fatigue among his charges was the reason they under-performed as they had to make a long road trip from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza.

“After our previous game versus Ruvu Shooting, we immediately began the long journey to here and unlike our colleagues who travelled by plane, we used a bus hence you could not expect much from these players,” he said.

He also pointed out that his top striker George Mpole is injured that is why he is nowhere to be seen in his squad insisting that the status of his injury can best be narrated by team’s doctor.

From ten matches, Geita Gold have won three games, four draws and succumbing to three defeats thereby hauling 13 points.