Young Africans SC (Yanga) head coach Romain Folz yesterday extended his perfect start, guiding the team to a 2-0 victory over Wiliete SC in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
The win secured Yanga’s progression to the first round with a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.
Folz has now led Yanga in four competitive matches, winning all of them without conceding a single goal. During this run, Yanga have scored nine goals: 1-0 against Simba, 3-0 and 2-0 against Wiliete SC, and 3-0 against Pamba Jiji.
Despite a tight schedule — with matches almost every three days — Folz has consistently delivered maximum points. His main weapon has been squad rotation, showing confidence by making changes in every game, a strategy that has paid off so far.
Some fans, however, still complain about the team’s playing style, arguing it is not attractive enough. But considering the short time Folz has spent with the squad and the congested fixture list, this may not be the right moment to judge him harshly.
At the start of last season, Yanga also went through a difficult spell of consecutive matches under coach Miguel Gamondi, which ended with two defeats and his eventual dismissal. His successor, Sead Ramovic, also began with two losses in the Champions League and was under threat of an early exit until results improved.
For now, Folz is delivering results, winning every game since taking charge of Yanga. As with any new coach, there is always a transition period before his system and tactics are fully absorbed by the players.
At this stage, it can be said Yanga are in that transition phase, and it’s only a matter of time before the dominant “5G victories” return.
