Yanga’s delegation, comprising of 21 players and eight officials, under head coach Hans Van der Pluijm boarded the flight yesterday morning for Turkey to finalize their groundwork for the Group A’s opener slated for next Sunday.
The squad included newly signed players; Hassan Kessy recruited from their archrivals Simba SC, Juma Mahadhi from Coastal Union, Andrew Vincent from Mtibwa Sugar and goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya from Tanzania Prisons.
Reliable right fullback Juma Abdul was left out of the travelling party after failing to recover from an injury he picked during the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier between the national soccer team, Taifa Stars and Egypt. Injured striker Malimi Busungu was not included either.
Out of contract defensive midfielder Salum Telela was also dropped from the trip, a move which asserted that his time at the club is over. He was joined by striker Paul Nonga and goalkeeper Benedictor Tinoko, who are not in Pluijm’s programme.
Ivorian defender Vincent Bossou was not part of the squad that left yesterday, as he is still in his native country attending family matters. He is expected to rejoin the team in Algeria.
Players who boarded the flight yesterday are; Ally Mustafa ‘Barthez’, Deo Munishi ‘Dida’, Kakolanya, Kessy, Mwinyi Haji, Oscar Joshua, Vincent, Mbuyu Twite, Kevin Yondan, Pato Ngonyani and skipper Nadir Haroub.
Others are Thabani Kamusoko, Mahadhi, Said Juma ‘Makapu’, Simon Msuva, Haruna Niyonzima, Deus Kaseke, Godfrey Mwashiuya, Donald Ngoma, Matheo Anthony and Amissi Tambwe. Officials were head coach Van der Pluijm, Juma Mwambusi (assistant coach), Juma Pondamali (goalkeeping coach), Edward Bavu (physician), Jacob Onyango (masseur), Mohammed Mpogolo (Kit manager) and Hafidh Saleh (team manager).
After the game in Algeria, Yanga will go back to Turkey to continue with their camp to train for the second game against the former CAF Champions League champs TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The team will return in the country two days before their encounter against Mazembe to be held on June 28 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Yanga are pooled in group A in the Confederation Cup group stage matches alongside Democratic Republic of Congo side, TP Mazembe, Mo Bejaia (Algeria) and Medeama from Ghana.
Meanwhile, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager has handed over 25m/- cheque to Young Africans for their Premier League title triumph.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Brand Manager, Pamela Kikuli said her company wants to be associated with winners and that was the reason behind its decision to bankroll the country’s top teams, Yanga and Simba.
Kikuli reiterated the company’s desire to take Tanzania’s soccer to greater heights and believes the 25m/- prize money will give the league champions Young Africans an added incentive.
“The win by Yanga in the Premier League has gone ahead to prove that it is indeed the best club at the moment and we’re proud to be associated with this kind of achievement,” she said.
She congratulated the coach, technical bench, club officials and fans as their contribution to the team was vital to the achievement. “The players too have shown high levels of commitment and played out their hearts.
It was a competitive season but they stood to the challenge and defended the title,” she said. The Brand Manager paid tribute to the club for being a good ambassador of Kilimanjaro Premium Lager through various achievements including winning the Premier League.
On his part, the Yanga Marketing Manager, Omar Kaya, thanked Kilimanjaro Premium Lager for the cooperation during the entire sponsorship period. “Kilimanjaro Premium Lager has been on the fore front in ensuring that we are comfortable by for instance providing kits on time, paying player salaries, you have bought us a good bus hence we are obliged to thank you for all this,” he said.
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