Yanga open 8-point gap at top

MBEYA: YOUNG Africans celebrated their 89th birthday in style after registering a hard fought 2-1 against Tanzania Prisons at Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya City,on Sunday.

Prior to the match, a one minute of silence was observed to honour the death of former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and ex-Yanga chairman Imani Madega who breathed their last on Friday.

However, the result enabled the defending champions to establish an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with 40 points from 15 matches.

Clement Mzize and Pacome Zouzoua netted in the first half to give their side a deserved lead at a wellattended tough away venue with fans enjoying each moment.

The game grew into excitement when both sides began to open up, playing purpose football and looked dangerous, whenever they crossed opponents’ line.

Things worked well for Yanga in the seventh minute when Pacome Zouzoua slotted into the box a timely assist that was connected into the net by Mzize who played as a lone striker.

With a goal down, the hosts could not freeze as they kept pushing for an equaliser before the elapse of the opening 45 minutes. But, on the stroke of half-time, Zouzoua increased the tally to make it two nil, hence the visitors went for a break cherishing two goals.

In the second half, the host recharged no wonder they secured a free-kick at the edge of the penalty box that was expertly converted by Jeremiah Juma.

Before Juma’s goal, Yanga suffered a blow after their goalkeeper Metacha Mnata was shown marching orders for his reckless challenge on Samson Mbangula. As such, Farid Mussa had to be ejected to pave way for shotstopper Abutwalib Mshery who took charge of the remainder of the match.

With one man down, Tanzania Prisons looked certain to poach the second goal but Yanga defended well until the last whistle sounded.

Meanwhile, a statement released by Yanga before the game indicated that the club’s sponsor Ghalib Said Mohamed (GSM) has accepted to support in the construction of the state-of-the-art stadium at the club’s headquarters located at Jangwani Street in the city.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank GSM for such a good gesture as this will complement the vision of the club to have an own stadium,” said part of the statement.