Yanga head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed tremendous faith in his squad, going as far as declaring that he has a team capable of winning the CAF Champions League title.
Two days ago, Yanga advanced from the preliminary round of the competition with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Gaborone United after winning the return leg at Azam Complex.
The first leg in Botswana ended in a 1-1 draw before Yanga secured a 2-1 victory at home.
It was not an easy match, but Yanga’s players demonstrated just how ready they are to fight for the team’s ambitions and even for the dream of their coach, Manqoba, who has shown tremendous faith in them.
Yanga had 11 players on the pitch, but there was tremendous communication and cooperation between them and their teammates on the bench.
On several occasions, players such as Mohamed Hussein 'Zimbwe Jr', as well as Stephane Aziz Ki and Shalulile, continued standing on the touchline and directing their teammates even after being substituted.
Clearly, one of the first areas where Manqoba has made an early impact is in building unity and cooperation among his players.
The players have demonstrated unity, with whoever is given the responsibility of starting in the lineup receiving 100 percent support from his teammates.
This is a team in which the players work together and are united by a common goal of achieving success. The first step towards success begins with building a strong team, and the technical bench has already shown progress in that area.
Yanga’s victories are no longer about one individual. Every player, whether on or off the pitch, understands their responsibility and plays their part fully to help the team secure victory.
At the same time, the leadership, under President Engineer Hersi Said, remains fully behind the team at all times. It is rare to see Yanga play without Hersi or Arafat being present at the stadium.
Yanga supporters have also been playing their part remarkably well. Yanga have not dominated Tanzanian football for five consecutive seasons by accident. The support from the fans has continued to be a major driving force behind that success.
This season, Yanga have set ambitious targets in the CAF Champions League, and with the unity and cooperation that exists among all sides, nothing is impossible.
Three seasons ago, Yanga reached the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) final. Nobody expected the Wananchi to achieve that feat, but they made it possible.
