Bruised Yanga SC look for redemption

 Defending champions Young Africans cannot afford more mistakes as the Vodacom Premier League season heads to the home stretch.

The Jangwani Street giants do battle with Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium today, harbouring hopes of restoring some pride following a 2-1 loss to bitter rivals Simba SC.

Yanga, who took an early lead through Simon Msuva, seemed destined for victory after Simba went down to 10 men. However, the latter’s backlash was devastating.

Laudit Mavugo and Shiza Kichuya scored world-class second half goals to stun the complacent George Lwandamina’s side.

With the victory, Simba, who are gunning for their first title in four seasons, opened a five-point lead at the top of the 16-team log with only seven matches remaining.

Yanga sit second with 49 points from 22 matches and should they win the rescheduled match today, they will climb to within two points of the leaders.

On paper, Yanga are odds-on favourites to bag the three points, however, the army outfit that is fighting for premiership stay, will likely give the star-studded champions a run for their money. Ruvu Shooting are placed 10th with 28 points, having played 23 matches. They are six points only above the relegation zone.

Even as Yanga plot to be back on the rails, they will be without the services of midfield kingpin Haruna Niyonzima, who is serving a match ban for accumulating three yellow cards.

Zimbabwean playmaker Thabani Kamusoko will also miss the match after joining his countryman Donald Ngoma on the treatment table.

The absence of key men in the squad is unquestionably a cause for concern for the technical bench.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Ruvu Shooting information officer Masau Bwire boasted that this would be the best time to beat Yanga.

Ruvu Shooting have a poor head-to-head record against Yanga, but the outspoken spokesman believes that they will inflict more pain on their hyped opponents.

“We will go into the match in the correct way. The boys have worked hard in training with a view to collecting maximum points on Wednesday (today),” said Bwire.

“We know Yanga are a big club with talented players, but last weekend’s loss will have an impact on their psychology and for us it is the best time to rub salt on a wound.”

Yanga will also have to leave financial difficulties beside if they are to avoid going off the rails again.

Club secretary general Charles Mkwasa admitted on Monday that Yanga were struggling with issues of finance, disclosing that majority of the players were not paid their salaries. After the clash with Ruvu Shooting, Yanga will swing back into action on Sunday when they face stubborn Mtibwa Sugar at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro.