Mtibwa Sugar handed Kagame Cup holders Young Africans a comprehensive three-goal demolition in the second round of the Mainland premier soccer league match played at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro yesterday.
The home side looked explosive right from the kick off when they came close to get an opener
Barely five minutes into the game when Vincent Barnabas failed to beat Yanga custodian Ali Mustafa at a close range for an abortive corner.
However, Yanga defence was highly porous and shaky as it would not resist early pressures when
Playing at home with huge support of fans Mtibwa opened the floodgates after 13 minutes when striker Dickson Mbeikya made use of a corner kick to slot home the opener.
Yanga had already conceded six corners in the opening twenty minutes as Mtibwa strikers looked lethal and vibrant upfront.
Defensive laxity and lack of coordination between Yanga’s Kelvin Yondani and Mbuyu Twite gave Mtibwa striker Hussein Javu an opportunity to increase the tally for his side midway into the first half.
Yanga trailed by two goals up to the half time mark as Mtibwa enjoyed the recess with great composure.
The visitors tried to launch sporadic attacks but Mtibwa defenders marshalled by Shaaban Nditi at the midfield stood firm to guard their goal and the lead.
Yanga coach had to replace Mbuyu Twite for Didier Kavumbagu as Mtibwa strikers continued to torment.
Goalkeeper Shaaban Kado who was transferred to Mtibwa on loan from Yanga before the new season kicked off was at his best between the posts.
He made some daring saves mush to amazement of Yanga players while keeping a clean sheet throughout the regulation time.
Yanga midfielder Athuman Idd worked tirelessly wit Haruna Niyonzima but the likes of Said Bahanuzi upfront never sparkled.
Javu was on target after 72 minutes through long range efforts in a goal scored against run of play. Two minutes before conceding the third goal Yanga substitute Kavumbagu forced Kado to a full stretch save to ignite the positive counter attack.
Yanga would have secured a consolation goal late in the game when referee awarded them a penalty following a handball by Mtibwa defender but Hamis Kiiza shot over the cross bar.
The defeat in Morogoro was the first in the premiership for Yanga coach Tom Saintfiet whose boys dropped two points in the opener against newly promoted Tanzania Prisons in a match played at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya last Saturday.
It was the Belgian coach’s 16th competitive match since taking over the team in June when he led Yanga to fifth Kagame Cup title.
Yanga have therefore dropped five points in two appearances as they look forward to entertain JKT Ruvu at the national Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Mtibwa who are under coach Meck Maxime have so far scooped four points following a barren draw with Police Morogoro during last week’s opener.
Line-ups:
Yanga: Ali Mustapha ‘Barthez’, Juma Abdul, Mbuyu Twite/ Didier Kavumbagu (64), Nadir Haroub ‘Cannavaro’, Kelvin Yondani, Athumani Idd ‘Chuji’, Frank Domayo/ Simon Msuva (46), Haruna Niyonzima, Said Bahanunzi, Hamisi Kiiza and David Luhende/ Stephano Mwasika (46).
Mtibwa Sugar :
Shaban Kado, Maliwa Ndeule, Issa Rashid, Dickson Mbeikya, Salvatory Ntebe, Shaban Nditi, Jamal Mnyate, Awadhi Juma, Hussein Javu, Shaban Kisiga and Vincent Barnabas/ Ally Mohammed (63).
