Yanga Locked in Crucial Mission

Mainland champions Young Africans resumed training yesterday in preparation for two crucial encounters at domestic and continental levels. Te premiership's defending champions meet minnows JKT Mlale in FA Cup tie tomorrow before hosting Cercle de Joachim on Saturday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam in their CAF Champions League preliminary round, return leg match. Fresh from 2-0 derby triumph over bitter-rivals Simba on Saturday, which placed them back on top of the Premier League table, Hans Van Pluijm has now focused for positive results against JKT Mlale and Cercle de Joachim. The Dutch trainer cast a watchful eye over his squad as they ran through drills yesterday at Police Kurasini ground in Dar es Salaam in preparation for the two assignments. Yanga dismissed Kagera Rangers with a comfortable 3-0 victory to reach the last 16 stage of the Federation Cup and will cherish their chances to reach the next stage at the expense of the army wardens. The game against JKT Mlale will serve as build-up to the continental fixture, of which the Jangwani Street outfit will be looking to finish off the tie following a 1-0 first leg away win.

"Our team has been drilled well ahead of the CAF Champions League, we have set our target to reach the group stage, but first, we must get this first hurdle out of the way," the club's head of communication department, Jerry Muro said yesterday.

Muro reiterated the club's ambitions to make a mark at the continental stage, saying the last eight is their main target this year and he insisted the team has what it takes to reach that far.

Ahead of the Saturday's visit of De Joachim, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has appointed Eritrean referees to take charge of the second leg tie at the 60,000-seater National Stadium.

Amanuel Eyob Russo will be directing affairs from the centre of the pitch, assisted by Suleiman Ali Salih and Hugush Abdelkader, with Idrisa Osman the match commissioner.

Meanwhile, the Azam Confederation Cup will continue on Friday with Ndanda FC playing hosts to JKT Ruvu at the Nang'wanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, while Coastal Union will host Morogoro's Mtibwa Sugar at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.

The next day will see Mwadui FC confronting Rhino Rangers at the Mwadui Complex in Shinyanga, while in Mbeya, Tanzania Prisons will play against winner of the match to pit Mbeya City and Wenda FC at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium.

The fixtures released by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), recently show that giants Simba will welcome Singida United at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

To reach that stage Simba saw off Burkina Faso FC of Morogoro with a 3-0 victory. Azam FC will have a date against Panone FC at the Ushirika Stadium in Moshi on Sunday, while Toto Africans will entertain Geita Gold on the same day at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.

Winner of the Azam Sports Federation Cup will represent Tanzania Mainland in 2017 CAF Confederation Cup. Initially, the tournament attracted 64 teams at different levels, which includes Mainland Premier League, First Division League and Second Division League.