By Admin,
YOUNG Africans popularly known as Yanga were on Monday crowned Vodacom Tanzania Premier League champions after crushing relegation bound Polisi Morogoro 4-1 in a one sided affair played at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Monday afternoon.
A hatrick by Amissi Tambe and a goal from superb Simon Msuva was enough to earn the men in Green and Yellow their 25th title as Admini Bantu’s goal was not enough to save his team from relegation.
Yanga finished on top of the summit with 55 points that could not be attained by any other team, thus earning the Jangwani Street outfit a record 25th league title.
Hans van der Pluijm’s demolition gang have amassed 55 points from 24 outings and boasted a massive 10 -point lead over second-placed and defending champions Azam FC.
Yanga proved that they are unstoppable in their bid to wrestle the top flight title back from Azam when they thrashed Ruvu Shooting 5-0 in their previous game played on Friday.
There were wild celebrations to celebrate the title at the 60,000-seater arena after Yanga cruised past struggling Polisi Morogoro.
Earlier on Sunday the Yanga management who were sure of a win issued a statement inviting everyone for the celebrations “Yanga management would like to invite all Tanzania citizens and neighbouring countries to join us when we celebrate winning the Premier League title,” Yanga Secretary General, Dr Jonas Tiboroha, said in a statement issued on Sunday.
“We have arranged a unique title celebration style and I would like to invite Tanzanians from different parts of the country to come and join us as we’ll have a surprise title-winning celebration on Tuesday,” he added.
Yanga have won 17 games so far this season, drawing four and losing two and have not lost a single game since a 1-0 defeat to Simba on March 8, this year.
Key to Yanga’s success this season is diminutive attacking midfielder Simon Msuva, who has bagged in 16 goals from wing position.
Msuva has proved to be lethal upfront and bagged a brace in Friday’s win over Ruvu Shooting. He will certainly be looking to extend his lead in the chase of the league’s top scorer table.
Amissi Tambwe, who joined Yanga during the mini-transfer window from archrivals Simba, has already endeared himself with the Jangwani Street side’s faithful with his eye for goal and will be expected to lead the line upfront.
Polisi Morogoro occupy the final relegation slot as they sit third bottom on 25 points from 24 games and need nothing but victory to keep any lingering survival hopes alive.
Yanga who are still in contention in the Caf Confederations Cup used the match as a dress rehearsal ahead of the second leg match against Etoile Du Sahel away in Tunisia as they carry a one goal advantage from the first leg match played in Dar Es Salaam.
Photo courtesy of SokaTanzania