- Chiefs will play a friendly match against Tanzania’s Yanga
- Wiki ya Mwananchi is a fan festival for the Tanzanian champions
- The two teams are preparing for their respective new seasons
South African giants Kaizer Chiefs have arrived in Dar es Salaam, ahead of their friendly match against Tanzanian champions Young Africans, in what will be the climax of the annual ‘Wiki ya Mwananchi’.
The celebrations are a week-long festival of fan activities by the Tanzanian giants, as they seek to bring their fans together to celebrate the achievments of the past season as well as prepare for the new campaign.
Chiefs will look toward putting up a good performance as they also gear up for the new season and skipper Itumelang Khune says they are determined to battle for a win, seeking a confidence boost of their own.
“Coming to Tanzania is always great for us because, as a team there are certain goals that we want to achieve. We want to compete in the Champions League. We were here not so long ago to play Simba and now we are back again playing against Yanga tomorrow. As players, we are excited. We are looking forward to the match,” Khune said as Amakhosi touched down in Dar.
On their prospects in the friendly match, Khune said; it is only fair to give them the respect they deserve but once we get on the pitch, we are here to win the match and we are here to make out Khosi Nation proud of their team, and to see how far we are with the preparations for the upcoming season.”
Preparations for the new season
Yanga SC players before a friendly match in Malawi
Meanwhile, Yanga are using the friendly match to test their readiness for the new campaign, as they look towards another domineering spell. Last season, they won both the league and the Cup and also reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup.
They expect it tougher this coming season, and a good level of preparation will be key for them to replicate the same performance.
This will also be head coach Miguel Gamondi’s first match in charge for the side, having taken over from Nasreddine Nabbi who left the club at the end of the season.
Gamondi will be keen to endear himself to the Yanga faithful early enough, and victory against a side of Amakhosi’s stature will be crucial in his bid.
Gamondi has an expansive experience in Africa, having coached Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars in South Africa as well as CR Belouizdad and USM Alger in Algeria and Hassania Agadir, Ittihad Tangier and Wydad Athletic Club in Morocco.
Ready for the new challenge
Yanga’s new coach Gamondi
The tactician says he is ready for the challenge ahead of him in Dar es Salaam and looks forward to winning trophies with the club.
“I am delighted to join Yanga. I am very proud and I can’t wait to start here. I followed the club playing in Continental football and I was very impressed with how they played. When we talked with the president I was convinced,” the tactician said after he arrived in Dar es Salaam.
He added; “I want to have a good challenge and for me this was the best. I had so many possibilities to join other teams but I was interested in this project. I am passionate for good football and this is what we will do. We will make the fans happy.”
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