Mayele: USM under magnifier
YOUNG Africans striker Fiston Mayele has described their opponents in CAF Confederation Cup finals USM Alger as a competitive side vowing to do what it takes to see them off.
Yanga marched on to the final of the Confederation Cup after their emphatic 4-1 aggregate win over Marumo Gallants prior to setting a date with the Algerian side in a two legged final.
The first meeting is pegged at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on May 28th before a return leg game in Algeria on June 3rd this year where the new champion will be decorated.
“They are a good team and both of us have reached in the finals meaning that we are equally a good team. Since we are beginning at home, we will fight hard to get more goals and try hard not to concede.
“In the return leg, we are also going to work hard for the sake of producing another convincing win,” he said.
Concerning their encounter against Marumo Gallants, Mayele reiterated that it was not an easy match as they had to overcome a difficult team which put much effort in the confederation cup.
“What has made us to reach this far is the quality of good players we have in the squad and you see it yourself that the way we play in the league is different with the way we embrace CAF games,” he said.
Also, the team’s Assistant Coach Cedric Kaze highlighted that reaching in the finals is not an achievement to them but what they will get thereafter will be a milestone.
He also pointed out that the two teams (Yanga and USM Alger) met previously in CAF engagements whereby the Algerian side succeeded insisting that this time, it will be a different encounter.
“Both teams have transformed a lot since then in terms of their squads as such, we expect to see a new match,” Kaze said.
He cemented that now, they have to utilise well the home ground advantage of the first leg match by ensuring that they stamp massive win ahead of the reverse leg duel.
He also hailed Yanga fans who travelled all the way to South Africa to rally behind their team calling it a good gesture which shows that Tanzania football is growing.
Meanwhile, Chama Cha Mapinduzi – Zanzibar has joined other stakeholders to congratulate Yanga for reaching in the finals of the confederation cup.
A statement signed recently by Khamis Mbeto, Secretary of the special NEC Committee in the Department of Ideology and Publicity CCM – Zanzibar urged all Tanzanians to show their patriotism by supporting Yanga to enable them win their upcoming final matches.
Yanga take on Singida Big Stars in the semifinal match of the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) at Liti Stadium in Singida seeking for a space to face Azam in the finals.
