Young Africans SC (Yanga) have expressed satisfaction with their squad for the upcoming season, stating they are optimistic about defending all their domestic titles while also aiming for success in the CAF Champions League, which kicks off in mid-September.
Speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Yanga President Engineer Hersi Said and Vice President Arafat Haji both expressed confidence in the team’s preparations, as well as in the ability of their new French head coach, Romain Folz. They emphasized that the coach should be given time to shape the squad, which has already impressed fans in Rwanda.
Last Friday, Yanga defeated Rayon Sports 3-1 in an international friendly at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. The goals came from Andy Boyeli, Pacome Zouzoua, and Bakari Mwamnyeto, while Aziz Andambwile scored an own goal for Rayon Sports.
“We are still in preparations, so it’s early to expect the team to display its usual shape, but we were impressed with the performance of our new players as well as the coach,” said Hersi. “That match was part of our preseason program and gave the new players valuable minutes to integrate with the team. Despite the challenges, we stuck to our philosophy of always aiming for success. We thank God we got the result.”
Hersi also praised their hosts for the warm reception and commended the success of the Rayon Sports Day celebrations. Vice President Arafat echoed the satisfaction, stating that despite it being the first match, the players displayed great quality just days after preseason began.
“We are satisfied with all the players we signed during this transfer window. The new coach has given us encouragement, as have the senior players. Our goals remain the same—to win all domestic titles and perform well internationally. Our players understand the weight of the jersey they wear and the meaning of winning everything for this club,” said Arafat.
When asked about the upcoming Community Shield clash against Simba, Arafat declined to dwell on it, stressing that Yanga’s focus is on the entire season. “We are preparing to compete in all competitions, not just against Simba. But we are ready to face any opponent in the Community Shield, regardless of the final format,” he added.
Yanga have now returned to Dar es Salaam after the Kigali match, where fans had a chance to see several of the club’s new signings, including Boyeli (who scored), Mohamed Doumbia, Moussa Balla Conte, Celestin Ecua, and Offen Chikola.
