Yanga seek top-spot boost against Geita
DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans Head Coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, says the highly competitive nature of the Mainland Premier League demands maximum concentration as his side prepare to host Geita Gold at KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam today.
Manqoba said Yanga cannot afford to underestimate Geita Gold despite sitting at the summit of the table, insisting that every match presents a different challenge in a league where teams are capable of causing surprises.
“This is a highly competitive league and we have not yet played against some of the big teams, so we have to take one game at a time,” Manqoba said.
Yanga enter the encounter while at top of the standings with 15 points, level with secondplaced Simba SC, who trail on goal difference. Geita Gold is ninth with seven points.
Manqoba said Geita Gold have shown enough quality to make the contest difficult, describing them as a well-organised outfit with technically gifted players.
“We are going to face a very good team. They have players with great technical ability and are a well-organised side, very compact defensively and capable of launching dangerous counterattacks,” he said.
The South African tactician added that Yanga’s line-up could be changed depending on the fitness of players, following their previous assignment.
“At this stage, it is difficult to say what changes there will be in the team going into tomorrow (today)’s game. We have not yet completed our preparations and we do not know the exact condition of the injured players or those who picked up minor injuries in the previous match,” he said.
Despite Yanga’s strong start to the season, Manqoba insisted he feels no pressure, saying he is enjoying the challenge of competing in the league.
ALSO READ: Yanga cautious of Gaborone
“I have no pressure. I am in the position I wanted to be in. We have to enjoy the competition and see where the battle takes us,” he said.
The coach, however, admitted that Yanga still have several areas to improve, with a congested fixtures limiting their training time.
“There are still many things we need to improve. The problem is that when we do not have enough time to train, it becomes difficult to make major improvements,” he said.
Meanwhile, Geita Gold Head Coach, Zuberi Katwila, said his players understand the quality of the league leaders and will rely on teamwork and discipline to challenge Yanga.
Katwila said his side would focus on executing their game plan rather than being distracted by Yanga’s involvement in continental football, insisting that the visitors must concentrate on their own performance and take their chances.
