The first batch of Tanzania’s representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup, Young Africans, have arrived in the country with their coach, seemingly unfazed by last week’s 1-0 beating at the hands of Algerians, vowing to take it out on the Congolese this Tuesday.
Still smarting from their recent loss to MO Bejaia of Algeria, Young Africans have a tricky date with TP Mazembe of Congo in 48 hours at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Head coach Hans Van Pluijm knows the task ahead of him and his boys but says they are ready to take on one of Africa’s most successful clubs.
“Our training in Turkey was very fruitful. We enjoyed some of the best facilities, so the morale in our camp is high, and the players are determined to face their opponents,” he said.
The Jangwani Street side need victory against the African giants in this second leg. The Congolese won 3-1 against Medeama Sporting Club of Ghana in the opening match held in Lubumbashi.
TP Mazembe are currently at the top of Group A with three points while MO Bejaia come second with three points as well. The Congolese lead by virtue of a superior goal difference. “TP Mazembe are a very strong side but we are good enough to face them. We bank on our fans to come and support us,” Pluijm said.
Players who arrived yesterday together with Pluijm and team manager Hafidh Saleh are Nadir “Cannavaro” Haroub, Donald Ngoma, Thaban Kamusoko, Obrey Chirwa, Pato Ngonyani and new goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya.
The final batch of players was expected to arrive today morning, and join the rest of the team for final preps in the evening at the National Stadium.
However, Yanga are struggling to fill the gap left by Oscar Joshua, who is yet to recover from an injury he suffered in the Mo Bejaia match. His substitute, Mwinyi Haji, has been ruled out of the TP Mazembe match because of the red card he got in the same match. Hajji Mwinyi received his marching orders in stoppage time for a second bookable offence. Yanga ended the clash at the Stade de l’Unité Maghrébine with 10 men.
