• 2024/2025 pre-season preparation
• Three consecutive Tanzania Premier League champions
• The significance of the friendly game according to the Head Coach
• Young Africans continental showpiece
• #UgSportsNow
Young Africans (Yanga SC), one of Tanzania’s most illustrious football clubs, are gearing up for the upcoming 2024/2025 season with a significant change in their pre-season preparations. The club, based on Jangwani Street, is set to embark on a pre-season camp in South Africa, a departure from their traditional training grounds in Kigamboni. This shift underlines their ambition and readiness to face the challenges awaiting them in the new season.
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Three consecutive Tanzania Premier League champions
Yanga SC made headlines at the end of the previous season, clinching the Premier League title for the third consecutive time and the 30th time in the club’s illustrious history. In a thrilling finale, they also emerged victorious in the Federation Cup after a tense penalty shootout against Azam FC, with a final scoreline of 6-5 following a goalless draw in regular time.
The significance of the friendly game according to the Head Coach
The club’s head coach emphasized the importance of the South African camp as a serene environment that offers ideal conditions for intense training and preparation. This move signifies a new chapter in their pre-season regimen, aimed at further elevating their performance standards.
Also read: Young Africans SC: Aiming to Move Thirteen Points in No Time
Ally Kamwe, Young Africans’ information officer, expressed optimism about the upcoming preparations. “This time we are coming differently from previous seasons. We expect to camp in South Africa, at the invitation of various clubs, and we have to go to Kenya for the opening of a Stadium in Kisumu,” Kamwe said as quoted by the Guardian.
Young Africans continental showpiece
Young Africans also made strides on the continental front during the previous season, reaching the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League. In a closely contested match against South Africa’s formidable Mamelodi Sundowns, Yanga SC put up a valiant effort but narrowly lost out in a penalty shootout, with a final score of 3-2 after two goalless legs.
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Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Young Africans’ pre-season will be marked by a special invitation from South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs to participate in a friendly match scheduled for July. This match holds significant importance for their preparations and will serve as a key component of their off-season training.
The decision to relocate their pre-season camp to South Africa was primarily influenced by this invitation from Kaizer Chiefs, as well as offers from several other clubs in the region. The budding relationship between Young Africans and Chiefs was further solidified last year when the latter took part in Yanga SC’s Wananchi Day celebrations, culminating in a pre-season friendly at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, where the hosts secured a narrow 1-0 victory.
As Young Africans (Yanga SC) set their sights on yet another successful season, their foray into South Africa for pre-season training signifies their commitment to excellence and their determination to rise to new challenges. This bold move underscores the club’s relentless pursuit of sporting glory and sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.
