Ligi Kuu Bara: Yanga SC were not good enough despite Dodoma Jiji win - Hamdi

Photo Credit - Yanga SC.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Miloud Hamdi has admitted that his team was not good enough in the first half of their 5-0 Mainland Premier League victory over Dodoma Jiji at New Amaan Stadium on Sunday.

With only one minute played, Zambia midfielder Clatous Chama scored the opener for the Citizens, but it was the only goal of the half as they held a narrow lead at half-time. Yanga reentered the pitch rejuvenated, adding four more goals to the scoreline.

Kenyan midfielder Duke Abuya, added the second goal in the 55th minute, before Ibrahim Baka made it 3-0 in the 69th minute. An own goal by Dodoma defender increased Yanga's tally to four before Maxi Nzengeli wrapped up an emphatic win with a goal in stoppage time.

“We didn’t begin well in the first half because we just came back from another difficult match. We played against a very strong side, and we gave everything. I expected Dodoma to give everything against us, and in the first half, we didn’t come out very quickly,” Hamdi told Pan-Africa Football.

“In the second half, I made tactical changes, and we managed to score four more goals, so I am happy for my team and my players.”

Asked about Yanga’s next game against rivals Simba SC, Hamdi said: “No, I don’t want to speak about Simba, I want to celebrate this great win, and thank the fans for coming out in large numbers. I don’t look at five, seven or six goals, because if you win 1-0, you only take three points, so I am proud of the players for what they have achieved.”

Dodoma coach Mecky Mexime said: “We came with a good plan to contain Yanga, we didn’t come here to concede five goals. The first half we managed them very well, but in the second half, we lost concentration and allowed them to run away with the game.”

On what led to the second half collapse, Mexime said: “After Yanga noticed we had denied them space to play in the first half, they came back with a new strategy, and kept pressing and looking for every opportunity. They got those small spaces and started to use them, and we eventually couldn’t recover when the goals started coming in.”

The win leaves Yanga perched at the top of the league with 79 points, one ahead of second-placed Simba, who secured a 1-0 win against relegated Kagera Sugar at KMC Stadium on Sunday.