Goncalves defends defensive tactics in Young Africans win

Young Africans coach Pedro Goncalves explained his decision to play a more defensive game after they secured a 3-0 Mainland Premier League victory over Pamba Jiji at CCM Kirumba Stadium on Wednesday.

A brace from Mudathir Yahya, and Maxi Nzengeli’s fine effort was enough to hand the reigning champions a comfortable win in the fixture.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Azam Sports (@azamtvsports)

Yahya got the visitors off to a perfect start after Allan Okello cushioned down left back Mohamed Hussein’s lofted pass into the penalty area to leave Yahya with an easy finish.

The midfielder then brought his season goal total to seven in the 34th minute after Okello’s cut back left Yahya with another routine finish from the edge of the six-yard box.

In the 68th minute, Congolese winger Maxi Nzengeli finished the scoring with a surging run and finish after collecting a pass from Okello.

‘Yanga played under different scenario’

“It was a different type of play because the scenario was different, and we are developing the team even with the opportunities we have to train the team, to have a plastic dimension, and different solutions for the team,” Goncalves told Pan-Africa Football.

“So, for today, we had a different scenario, different opponent, different pitch, and we needed to have a different approach in terms of formation, some dynamics a little bit different, but the main idea was there.”

On his decision to park the midfield, and whether the approach paid off, the former Angola coach said: “Yes, that team is very powerful, their players didn’t allow us to play like we enjoy to play, we needed to be more physical, sometimes more vertical.

“The boys made it very well, perhaps, at some moment with a little bit more confidence we had a better game but also the temperature, the grass, the opponent, made us change our style, but at the end I am very happy with the performance, and congratulations to the boys.”

Pamba Jiji suffered because of mistakes

Pamba Jiji coach Francis Baraza, who had not lost at home in recent matches despite earlier on facing Azam FC, and Simba SC conceded defeat saying he was yet to understand what happened.

“I don’t understand what happened, I am still looking at what happened and I can’t see anything we did wrong. It is unfortunate we lost, and I have to congratulate Young Africans,” said Baraza.

“We had a few lost balls, and we conceded a goal which we couldn’t communicate well to defend, and it happened again for the second goal, we didn’t communicate again, and we got punished.

“Anyway, that is football, we have to dust ourselves up and get ready for the next assignment.”

Yanga continued to maintain their pace at the top of the table. They lead rivals Simba SC by nine points with two more matches played than the Reds.

Next up on Saturday is a Round of 16 clash in the CRDB Bank Federation Cup, where the champions will clash with Arusha-based second tier club TMA Stars.