Pluijm wants Yanga improvement

YOUNG Africans SC Head Coach, Hans Van De Pluijm has shown disapproval of his team’s performance at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya, despite earning a massive 3-0 win against their host Prisons FC on Thursday, in the ongoing Vodacom Premier League (VPL).


The Dutchman expressed his dissatisfaction of his squad display in the match, but said he was happy with the results which saw his team leapfrogging defending champions Azam FC to the top of VPL standing.


“I’m disappointed with the team performance in today’s (Thursday) match, but I am happy with the result we have obtain against our host,” said the Dutchman.


Pluijm seems to be eager to see some improvement in performance of his team, which will take another Mbeya region top-flight club Mbeya City at the same venue on Sunday.


Pluijm is determined to take all the six points in the Southern Highland city to consolidate his team’s position at the top of the table.


Commenting on the game, Yanga Captain Nadir Haroub Ally said although they emerged handsome victory, the game was tough and the cold weather was a little bit not in their favour.


He said their opponents tried hard to stop them but was pleased that they managed to grab maximum points. “It was a tough match, the weather was not in our favour but we managed to win the game and we are now looking forward to face another tough encounter against Mbeya City on Sunday (tomorrow), every game is like final to us,” he said.


Haroub said they respect Mbeya City, acknowledging that their opponents are among the best teams in the league but said they will go into the match with the same objective of chalking the home team and win maximum points.


The no non-sense central defender promised Yanga supporters that they will battle to their last breath to ensure they emerge with victory.


Yanga, who are the country’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup tournament are utilising the league matches as part of its preparations for the return leg, preliminary round match against Botswana’s BDF XI FC in Gaborone scheduled to take place next weekend.


Yanga will take to Gaborone a 2-0 lead they attained in the first leg at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam last Saturday and they only need a draw of any kind to sail into the first round of the continental second tier club event.


A 1-0 defeat will still allow Yanga to go into the next round. On his side Prisons’ Captain Fred Chudu conceded the defeat, saying their opponents took charge of the first half of the game and utilised it well scoring quick goals to make things difficult for them to come back into the game.


The league continues today with Kagera Sugar, seating third on 21 points confronting Polisi Morogoro at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga.


A win for Kagera Sugar will only bring them closer second placed Azam on 26 points. On the other hand, a win for Polisi will see the Adolf Rishard’s side taking a huge leap from the eighth slot to the third with 22 points.


Coastal Union will be Ndanda FC guests at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, with both sides looking for three crucial points.


If Coastal register victory over Ndanda they will also move to the top four positions of the league, while victory for Ndanda will move them away from the relegation zone, which they are currently staring at.


Ndanda is currently placed 11th in the league standing on 16 points, one above Stand United, who are in the relegation together with Mgambo JKT and Tanzania Prisons on 14 and 11 points respectively.


The day will also see action at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, when Mtibwa Sugar will battle it out against Mgambo JKT, who lost 4-1 against Stand United in the previous match.


Mtibwa Sugar, who were held to a barren draw by Ndanda FC in their previous match, will be targeting a win against their host, to regain its winning formula which they lost since the kick off of the second round.