Yanga ramp up defence with Mwenda signing

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans SC have strengthened their defensive lineup by signing Israel Mwenda, the Singida Black Stars fullback, as part of the club’s strategy to bolster their defence for upcoming local and continental campaigns.

Mwenda, who previously played for Yanga’s rivals Simba SC, is a versatile defender capable of playing both right-back and left-back. His arrival is expected to address the defensive challenges Yanga have faced on both flanks in the current season.

Mwenda’s signing adds depth to Yanga’s backline, creating healthy competition among current defenders, such as Kouassi Attohoula Yao, Shadrack Boka and Dickson Kibabage. These players have struggled with injuries and inconsistent performances, making Mwenda’s addition timely.

In addition to Mwenda, unconfirmed reports suggest that Yanga are also targeting Congolese goalkeeper Ley Ngumbi Matampi, as well as defender Lameck Lawi, both from Coastal Union to further strengthen the squad.

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However, despite the reinforcements, Yanga face significant pressure in the CAF Champions League after suffering back-to-back defeats. The Tanzanian giants lost 2-0 to MC Alger in Algeria, following a similar loss to Al Hilal at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The results have left Yanga at the bottom of Group A, with no points and no goals from their first two matches.

The upcoming match against TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scheduled for Saturday at Stade TP Mazembe, is crucial for the teams, who are both searching for their first victory in the group stage. With no points on the board, the fixture is pivotal for Yanga’s chances of progressing in the tournament.

In the current Group A standings, Sudan’s Al Hilal lead with six points, followed by MC Alger with four points. TP Mazembe sit in third place with one point, while Yanga remain at the bottom.

Yanga’s Media and Communication Manager, Ally Kamwe, emphasised the importance of the match:

“This is a very important game for us to win in order to reignite our hopes of reaching the quarterfinals. TP Mazembe are also looking for their first victory, so it won’t be an easy task.”

“We are going into this match with a winning mentality, which is crucial for rebuilding our confidence in the competition. We have a strong team and we need full support from our members and fans,” he said.