Yanga boss explains surprising squad mentality that will carry them to CAF history

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FOOTBALL Yanga boss explains surprising squad mentality that will carry them to CAF history

Joel Omotto • 19:40 - 26.04.2023

The club’s spokesman revealed how the players remained humble despite securing a huge advantage in Nigeria last week

Yanga SC spokesman Ally Kamwe has revealed how the club hierarchy was surprised by the humility of their players following their 2-0 victory over Nigeria’s Rivers United last Sunday.

The Tanzanian Premier League champions claimed the memorable win in Uyo to secure a huge advantage in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg ahead of the return match in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Following the victory, the club’s top brass was all in celebrations but they were taken aback when they went back to meet the players only to find them not in a celebratory mood waiting to head to their hotel.

“After the match in Nigeria, captain Bakari Mwamnyeto called the players in the dressing room and told them to leave the celebrations to the officials since they still have to complete the job in Dar es Salaam,” Kamwe told Wasafi FM on Wednesday.

“So, we (officials) left the pitch excited and celebrating headed to the team bus. We meet players all quiet, and they told us; 'Our celebrations will be at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. We want to be the first team that ever took Yanga to a semi-final of a CAF competition'.

“We said this is the mentality we want in our squad. Because as the hierarchy, we have our targets but if the squad does not go in line with us, we will be stuck somewhere. But we learned that the players are one step ahead of us, that they want to boost their careers, for us that is a blessing.”

Yanga are considered favourites to win the tie given they have not lost a home match in continental matches this season and also have the league and competition’s top scorer Fiston Mayele in their ranks.

Mayele scored both goals in their win on Sunday to take his tally in the competition to five and according to Kamwe, the Congolese striker is highly-motivated ahead of the return leg.

“Mayele has told his teammates to help him win the golden boot. He wants to be the top scorer in both the league and confederation Cup which is extra motivation,” added Kamwe. Yanga have never gone past the quarter-final of a CAF competition in their 88-year history.