After Yanga’s 3-2 away defeat to Dodoma Jiji in a Mainland Premier League match played on May 13, captain Bakari Mwamnyeto found himself under heavy criticism from supporters.
Mwamnyeto scored an own goal during the match, while the third goal came after he avoided heading the ball, apparently leaving it for goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga, only for it to end up in the net. Those moments triggered strong reactions from Yanga fans.
The defender has reportedly been receiving harsh criticism from supporters, with some accusing him heavily, a situation that eventually forced him to ask the coaching staff not to include him in the CRDB Federation Cup quarter-final match against JKT Tanzania.
After Yanga’s 2-0 victory over JKT Tanzania to secure a place in the semi-finals, coach Abdihamid Moallin admitted that the club decided to rest Mwamnyeto because he had been psychologically affected by the aftermath of the Dodoma Jiji match.
Moallin urged Yanga supporters not to turn against the team’s players, stressing the importance of maintaining calm and unity during the remaining seven matches of the season, where any instability could negatively affect the squad.
“It’s true we had to rest Mwamnyeto. He came and requested it himself because he felt he was not mentally okay. We understand that losing a match is not easy to accept — not only for the fans, but also for us and the players,” said Moallin.
“When we lose, the first people who suffer are the fans, and when we win, the first people we think about are our supporters. As coaches, we understand that players make mistakes, which is why we give them opportunities to correct themselves.”
“We must remain strong together. I was happy with how focused the players were against JKT Tanzania. Defensively we looked calm, our midfield was disciplined, and upfront we finished the game early. This shows the players know they made mistakes and understand that such results are not acceptable for a big club fighting for titles. We love our fans and ask them to forgive the players.”
Against JKT Tanzania, Yanga made only one change to the starting lineup, with Frank Assinki replacing Mwamnyeto in central defense. Assinki looked composed alongside goalkeeper Djigui Diarra as the defense delivered a stable performance.
Yanga Information Officer Ally Kamwe also supported the coach’s message, asking supporters not to make life more difficult for the players. He revealed that the club is still monitoring Mwamnyeto’s emotional condition after the criticism he faced following the Dodoma Jiji defeat.
“I ask our fans to remember these are their players. Mistakes can happen, but they should not go too far with criticism because these are the same players we depend on to achieve our goals,” Kamwe told Mwanaspoti.
Mwamnyeto is not the only Yanga player to face such pressure this season. Right-back Israel Mwenda also went through a difficult period after the 2-2 draw against Simba.
