Yanga head coach Pedro Gonçalves has emphasized that his team is struggling to get enough preparation time due to a demanding fixture schedule.
Yanga are currently in Dodoma, where they will face Mtibwa Sugar tomorrow, Saturday, at Jamhuri Stadium in their Matchday 16 fixture, which marks the start of the second round.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Gonçalves revealed that this will be their seventh game in just 21 days.
He noted that for nearly three weeks, the team has been playing away matches that require constant travel, with some players also observing Ramadan fasting.
Despite these challenges, the Portuguese coach insisted that his team remains focused and determined to secure a win against Mtibwa Sugar.
"Our preparations for tomorrow’s match have been very challenging. We arrived from Arusha yesterday after a long journey, and upon arrival, many players had recovery sessions while others did light training on the pitch."
"Over the past three to four weeks, we have had a very tight schedule. Tomorrow’s match will be our seventh in 21 days, which is a big challenge. We must also consider that some players are fasting during Ramadan, along with frequent travel—it has been a very tough period for us."
"We finished the first round of the league at the top of the table. This does not guarantee us the title, but it gives us great confidence going forward. Now we are focusing our energy on tomorrow’s match against Mtibwa Sugar."
"For me personally, this is a special match. It was my first home game with this team, played against KMC. At that time, we were not at the top—we were two points behind our rivals. Now we are leading the table as we begin the second round, and confidence will be very important."
"Our goal is always to get three points, and tomorrow will be no different. It is also important for us to reach the upcoming FIFA international break while still at the top, regardless of tomorrow’s result. That period will be important for rest and the return of players, especially those recovering from injuries and those joining their national teams," said Gonçalves.
