DEFENDING champions Young Africans have put behind them Sunday’s "disappointing results" against their rivals Simba and are now setting their eyes on tomorrow’s game against Rhino Rangers.
The country’s two oldest clubs and archrivals battled to a 3-3 draw in a tension packed Premier League derby at the 60,000-seater National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The outcome dismantled Simba from the pilot’s seat to the fourth berth with 19 points, one behind frontrunners Azam FC and newcomers Mbeya City. Yanga are fifth on 16 points.
Yanga’s Information Officer, Baraka Kizuguto, said yesterday the draw has disappointed not only the club but its supporters as well and they are now looking forward to a satisfactory result tomorrow when they host Rhino Rangers from Tabora at the state-of-the-art venue.
“We know our supporters are disappointed by Sunday’s draw with our rivals Simba and we feel the same. That is what the game of football is all about -- you win, lose or draw,” he said.
“All we need now is to be calm and focus on the remaining games, instead of wasting our precious time looking for excuses.” But despite Kizuguto’s remarks, the ‘Daily News’ witnessed some of Yanga supporters gathering in groups outside their club’s headquarters at Jangwani to discuss their team’s performance and the 3-3 draw that overturned their 3-0 first half lead.
The Supporters were very much angered by the result and some of them even pointed an accusing finger to some of their key players, accusing them of contributing to the disappointing draw.
Yanga coach, Ernie Brandts was left red faced after the match and branded his players as "fools" after they started celebrations after the break, instead on keeping their heads together and focused in increasing the tally.
“We could have easily scored six goals even before the break but the players have shown immaturity and highest degree of unprofessionalism, especially in the last ten minutes before the break… they were like kids with silly tricks that could not help the team and they wasted clear chances that could otherwise have killed off the game,” lamented the former Dutch international. Brandts was mad at his players when he found them celebrating in the dressing room after the break.
“I told them point black, if you fail to keep you focus in the last 45 minutes, Simba will come back into the game and settle the score, exactly this is what happened…ask them what I said,” the vividly angered coach said. He insisted that the blame should go to all players, instead of pin pointing several names in the team.
“To me all the players are to blame for the disappointing performance in the second half it’s not about naming names here,” he said. Yanga’s assistant coach Fred Felix "Minziro" said his team is reoganising for the forthcoming game and insisted that it played well against Simba but fumbled in the second half.
He said the players are required to play as a team and not rely entirely on individual skills. "I urge our supporters to come and cheer up their team in the coming match against Rhino Rangers,” said Minziro. Simba’s coach Abadallah Kibaden ‘King’ was also mad at his players for performing behind par in the first half and he blamed leadership interference with the technical bench.
“It is really sad that some officials have been poking their noses and forcing the technical bench to field certain players, who according to us they lack merits. I decided to field the players they wanted in the first half and let every one see their ability.
“I told the players after the break, you’ve let in enough goals…three is just enough for them, go back and play your game and get the best you can and I’m pleased we at least managed a draw,” said the former Simba striker.
Yanga scored their goals through strikers Mrisho Ngassa and Hamisi Kiiza (two), but things changed dramatically in the second half leaving Yanga supporters disbelieving what they were seeing after Simba came back a rejuvenated side and gradually reduced the arrears to level the score. Simba scored their goals through striker Betram Mombeki and defenders Joseph Owino and Gilbert Kaze.
The atmosphere at Simba headquarters along Msimbazi Street was calm yesterday. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) said yesterday that Sunday’s derby fetched 500,727,000/- and each of the two clubs pocketed 123,025,564/32. TFF Information Office Boniface Wambura said 57,422 people paid to watch the match.
Entrance fee was 5,000/-, 7,000/-, 10,000/-, 15,000/-, 20,000/- and 30,000/-. He said 57,558 tickets were printed and only 131 were unsold.
Post a Comment