Ligi Kuu Bara: Hamdi impressed with Yanga SC display in Azam FC victory

Photo Credit - Young Africans Sports Club.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) head coach Miloud Hamdi admitted that he was impressed with the performance of his players following a 2-1 Mainland Premier League win against Azam FC at Azam Complex Stadium on Thursday.

Despite the Ice Cream Makers playing at home, it was the Citizens who took the lead in the 12th minute courtesy of Ivorian star Pacôme Zouzoua before Zimbabwean forward Prince Dube doubled Yanga’s lead in the 34th minute, scoring against his former club.

In the second half, coach Taoussi made changes to his Azam squad and they looked lively but they had to wait until the 81st minute when Lusajo Mwaikenda sparked a comeback but the goal was not enough as Yanga earned revenge, having lost the first round meeting 1-0.

“I think we made a very good game, I am very happy with the performance of my players especially in threw first half, they played like I had asked them to play, I am also very happy because what we do in training I saw it in the game,” Hamdi told Pan-Africa Football.

“It is wonderful for the coach to see that whatever we are doing in training is brought to the game, it is not easy for players to follow instructions, but in the game today, I saw it and I am very happy. I could have loved we win to 2-0 but again, we were playing against Azam, they are very difficult opponents, they are a good team, with strong players, and even after leading 2-0 at half-time, the game was not over, if we thought we had won the game, that was a big mistake.

I spoke to my players at half-time and told them we must continue to play higher and try to press, to give everything, and my players did exactly that, they pressed they gave everything but it was not easy because we had used the same energy during our wins against Tabora United, against Coastal Union and now against Azam. I must congratulate my players, bravo, bravo to my players for the win, I am very happy.”

This enabled Yanga to move 10 points clear at the top of the 16-team league table with 67 points from 25 matches while Azam kept their third place with 51 points from 26 outings.