Yanga SC attacking midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki has decided to use the FIFA international break as an important opportunity to rebuild his fitness after missing the club’s full pre-season preparations with the squad.
Aziz Ki was not included in the Burkina Faso squad for the 2027 AFCON qualifying matches, giving him the opportunity to remain with his club and use the coming weeks for a specialised physical programme ahead of Yanga’s demanding schedule.
The midfielder has been out of the national team setup for some time, with his omission from the Burkina Faso squad coming after an extended period in which he had not been playing regularly.
He Missed a Crucial Part of Pre-Season
After leaving Al Ittihad, Aziz Ki went through an unusual period before returning to Tanzania.
The player had to wait until just days before the transfer window closed to complete his move to Yanga. As a result, he missed a significant portion of the club’s pre-season preparations with his teammates.
While other players were involved in pre-season programmes with their respective teams, Aziz Ki spent much of his time training individually to maintain his physical condition.
Therefore, despite possessing considerable technical ability, reaching peak physical fitness has been one of the key priorities for him during this early part of the season.
Three Weeks to Build Himself Up
The FIFA break has given Aziz Ki a period that could prove more important to him than it is to some other players.
Instead of travelling for international duty, the midfielder will remain in the club environment and have more time to work on his fitness, strength and preparations to return to his best level.
Aziz Ki himself believes this period can help him return stronger.
“I think this break is a good time to strengthen myself further and make sure I come back stronger,” said Aziz Ki.
Red Card Has Added to the Waiting Period
Despite using the FIFA break to improve his fitness, Aziz Ki may have to wait even longer before returning to Mainland Premier League action.
The midfielder was shown a red card in Yanga’s match against Geita Gold, putting him at risk of missing subsequent matches due to the suspension resulting from the card.
Reports indicate that Yanga lodged an appeal against the decision to issue the red card, but no official information has yet been released confirming any change to the decision.
If the suspension remains unchanged, Aziz Ki could miss Yanga’s next two league matches against Simba SC and TRA United.
As a result, this FIFA break could benefit him in two ways: firstly, by allowing him to improve his fitness, and secondly, by giving him time to prepare without a competitive league match interrupting the programme.
Aziz Ki should be fully ready to return on October 17, when Yanga are scheduled to face Madagascar’s CFFA in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second-round qualifying tie for a place in the group stage.
