YOUNG Africans said playing two-legged CAF Champions League rounds against South Sudan’s Zalan at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam is an advantage to them.
The two teams meet in preliminary round matches on September 10th and the return leg on September 17th this year.
However, after the South Sudan champions requested to use the country’s 60,000- capacity venue as their home ground, this means Yanga will play both matches in Dar es Salaam.
“I can easily see a clear path for us to advance to the first round of the Champions League especially after seeing both matches will be staged here,” said Yanga President Hersi Said in Dar es Salaam.
Adding, he said most of the players in the squad have vast experience in Champions League, hence an indicator that they can easily achieve the target of reaching the group stage of Africa’s biggest club competition.
However, before engaging Zolan, Yanga have a difficult puzzle to solve as they host Azam in the NBC Premier League match at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on September 6th this year.
Both sides have begun the season postively note front pedal as they are yet to taste defeat from two games they have played so far.
For Yanga, it will be their first home match of the season after playing away in their opening two fixtures.
They first beat Polisi Tanzania 2-1 before downsizing Coastal Union with 2-0 win, both games staged at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.
This gives them six points in the bag similar to leaders Simba who have also generated six points from two games, but superior good goal average places Simba at the helm.
On the other hand, Azam won 2-1 against Kagera Sugar before being held to a 1-1 draw by Gaiter Gold at their Azam Complex.
Momentum to this essential match is going up slowly with sports fraternity scratching their heads wondering which team will be the first to draw blood.
