Africa-Press – Tanzania. YOUNG Africans have broken ice on the fate of their three players ahead of their CAF Champions League match against Rivers United of Nigeria at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
The club has admitted that until yesterday, the fate of their three newly-signed players Djuma Shaban, Fiston Mayele and Khalid Aucho whether they will play on the day is in doubt due to delay of their International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from their former clubs.
Addressing members of the media on Wednesday at the club’s headquarters in the city, Spokesperson Haji Manara said they have already written to FIFA through the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) concerning the issue of the trio.
“As a club, we timely sent requests to get ITC of the three players before the deadline as such, we have written to FIFA asking them to intervene and am sure that before the match day, we are going to receive feedback from them,” Manara said.
He however conceded that missing the three players is a big blow to them as they are national team players but he insisted that the coach is aware about that hence the reason they signed many players.
“If it happens that FIFA does not give us the ITC of the trio, we will still play the game with extra energy since there are other players like Heritier Makambo, Feisal Salum, Paul Godfrey and Shomari Kibwana who can easily bridge the gap. “Yanga fans and supporters should not be worried about this because the coach has a plan B on how to solve the situation by using other players, “ he said.
In another development, Manara disclosed that via TFF, they are yet to get the exact number of fans who will be permitted to watch the game live at the giant venue as per Covid-19 protocols.
“We believe that within the next 24 hours, CAF through TFF, will give us the required number of fans to be allowed on the day that is why we have not yet disclosed entry charges as we still await them to provide answers. “Once we get their feedback, then entry charges will be communicated instantly through media platforms,” said Manara while insisting on Yanga fans to be alert to support their team on Sunday.
He continued: “Many people do not know that we are the first club to play in the group stage of the Champions League in 1988. We are a club with big fan base and a club with many titles both domestic and international ones. In short, we are champions of all time in Tanzania and East Africa.” Elaborating on the team’s targets, Manara said they want to reclaim the championship they missed in the past four seasons, to win the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC), to go beyond the group stage of Champions League, winning the Community Shield title and Mapinduzi Cup.
“Yanga is a big club capable to win every domestic title and we need to move as a giant club by firstly defeating the Nigerians. About how the team plays that is the responsibility of the coach but for fans, their role is to support the team throughout the game,” he noted.
