Ahead of their CAF Champions League preliminary-round second leg, Yanga SC head coach Manqoba Mngqithi and the club’s Information and Communications Manager, Ali Kamwe, have delivered strong messages suggesting that the Jangwani giants are ready for the battle and have no intention of falling short of their ambitions this season.
Speaking to journalists at Yanga Media Day earlier today, head coach Manqoba Mngqithi made it clear that his ambitions at Yanga go beyond simply participating in the competition, with his ultimate target being to win the African title.
Mngqithi said his squad continues to improve day by day and possesses enough quality to compete against any of the continent’s top teams.
“Our ambitions are big; we want to win the African title, and we have a squad capable of fighting to reach that level. I ask our fans not to be afraid, but to come to the stadium in large numbers and support us because the team is strong,” Mngqithi said.
For his part, Yanga Information and Communications Manager Ali Kamwe used the opportunity to reassure the club’s members and supporters ahead of the clash against Gaborone United, which will be played at Azam Complex Stadium in Chamazi.
Kamwe acknowledged that the match will be difficult but insisted that their opponents are not intimidating enough to prevent Yanga from progressing.
“It is a difficult match, but it is not frightening. We know our opponents have a major weapon from set pieces, and our technical bench under Coach Mngqithi, who has vast experience in these African competitions, has worked on all of that,” Kamwe said.
Kamwe added that Yanga’s biggest strength will come from the stands, urging supporters to fill the stadium on Saturday and create a difficult atmosphere for their opponents.
Meanwhile, speaking about the form of attacking midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki, Kamwe said the player remains a key part of the squad, stressing that decisions made on the pitch are based on the coach’s fitness assessment and tactical plans rather than a player’s name.
