Young Africans head coach Pedro Goncalves has expressed satisfaction after his side’s emphatic 5-0 victory over JKT Tanzania, a result that propelled them to the top of the Mainland Premier League table.
The Citizens delivered a dominant performance on Wednesday, with goals from Mohamed Hussein, Laurindo ‘Depu’ Aurelio, Yahya Mudathir, Prince Dube, and Shekhani Khamis securing their ninth win of the campaign.
Dominant Display Sends Yanga Top
The victory sees Young Africans S.C. level on 28 points with Tanzania Prisons, having recorded nine wins and one draw so far this season. Notably, Yanga remain unbeaten and continue to show strong title credentials.
Speaking after the match, head coach Pedro Goncalves praised his players for their resilience and commitment despite a congested fixture schedule.
“I feel good for sure, five goals and on top of the table. We were cut for that, the boys delivered everything, and as I said before the game, we are taking it a game at a time,” Goncalves told Pan-Africa Football.
Handling High-Density Fixtures
Goncalves highlighted the physical demands placed on his squad, noting that they had played only a few hours after their previous fixture.
“It is fantastic because we only played a few hours after the last match. The rules state 70 hours before the next game, but anyway, we are playing very intense matches — the last one against Namungo, and today’s game, and even Sunday.”
He added:
“We are crossing high-density matches, but the boys delivered everything. They are understanding and always wanting to improve more and more our performances.”
“We Deserved to Win 5-0”
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Goncalves insisted that the match was intense and competitive.
“Yes, we deserved to win 5-0, but the match was very intense. Perhaps it doesn’t show absolutely the difference between the two teams, but I think we deserved that win, for sure.”
He also downplayed the importance of formations, emphasizing team dynamics instead.
“It doesn’t matter about the formation. What matters is our dynamics — how we press, how we defend, and what the boys are understanding.”
Kariakoo Derby Awaits
Yanga’s next challenge will be a highly anticipated Kariakoo Derby clash against arch-rivals Simba SC on Sunday.
“We want to be on top as long as we can. We will next face our biggest rivals, and everyone will put their best efforts to help the team. But now we need to recover — we know we don’t have too much time to prepare, but we will be ready.”
With momentum on their side and confidence soaring, Young Africans will look to maintain their unbeaten run and solidify their position at the summit when they face Simba in what promises to be a thrilling derby encounter.
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