Africa-Press – Tanzania. YOUNG Africans have encouraged their former player Haruna Niyonzima to undergo further football coaching lessons in order to be considered for the coaching roles at the club in the future.
Niyonzima was given an official farewell on Thursday during the team’s top flight league match against Ihefu at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam of which the former won 2-0.
The Rwandan player was introduced in the second half of the game and was immediately handed the captain’s armband by Yanga skipper Bakari Mwamnyeto.
However, speaking after the match during a special occasion to farewell him, the club’s Chairman Mshindo Msolla urged Niyonzima to continue taking up coaching courses.
“I know you have CAF licence C as such, if you can go further with coaching training, one day you may be considered for either Assistant Coach of the senior team or Head Coach for the youth side.
“Work hard to get CAF licence B which will give you a chance to be at the coaching panel during league matches,” Msolla said in his brief farewell remarks.
On his part, Niyonzima reiterated that he will miss lots of good memories he experienced throughout his playing tenure in the Mainland Premier League.
“I am not retiring yet from football but this is the last time to play at this great club. For sure, I cherished every moment I spent here and Yanga fans are exceptional. They fully supported me from my first day.
“I was being hunted by many teams but I chose Yanga and truly, I enjoyed a lot playing at this club to the extent that even many people from Rwanda fell in love with Yanga.
“Let me thank all Tanzanians for their warm reception they gave me and my entire family. Even today (Thursday), you are giving me a good farewell. For that, I say thank you,” said Niyonzima.
However, Yanga player Feisal Salum who scored both goals on the day dedicated them to Niyonzima saying he was a good person in the team.
“I do not have much to give him other than the two goals I scored. Surely, we will miss him a lot because he is a good man and we lived peacefully with him,” he said.
Apparently, the final results of the match were not healthy to Ihefu as they stepped closer to the relegation exit door with one more game to play before knowing their next season’s fate.
They are now placed 16th on the table with 35 points from 33 games just one point ahead 17th slot occupants Gwambina as the campaign ends on July 18th.
