Eng. Hersi unpacks Yanga’s strategy that ended rivals Simba’s dominance
Young Africans (Yanga) emphatically ended their NBC Tanzania Premier League title drought when they beat Coastal Union 3-0 in front of their vociferous fans at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday afternoon.
It was Yanga’s 27th fixture of the domestic campaign in which they have not tasted defeat, toppling their bitter rivals Simba with great panache and flamboyance of style.
The win saw the Jangwani-based giants open an unassailable 16-point lead on their crosstown nemesis – Simba. Of course, Simba, who have won the league four times on the trot, have two games in hand, but the ruthlessness with which Yanga have been amassing points this season means the coveted 2021/22 Premier League title is out of their rivals’ reach.
Free-scoring Fiston Mayele’s double and Chiko Ushindi’s second-half strike landed the 28th title in Yanga’s cabinet. Engineer (Eng.) Hersi Ally Said, the chairman of Yanga’s Signing Committee, has detailed what it took to get the club back where it belongs – among the big boys of Tanzania football.
“The achievement was based on the initial set-up a year ago; Yanga had been struggling for the past four years. For four years, we had not won the league, which is not normal.
“Three years ago, GMS Group, under my supervision, came to Yanga and started investing to put it at the level it used to be. We started with two processes – a short-term project of bringing Yanga to its best and a transformation project,” Eng. Hersi told FARPost.
The strategy involved creating a well-oiled structure of administration, fan engagement and excellent recruitment. In conjunction with Sevilla, La Liga entered into a historic strategic consultancy agreement that targeted to help the record Tanzanian league champions transform in various development aspects.
The deal has seen Yanga advised on management and activities with the fans, digital transformation, marketing and sales, economic control, digitalisation and international development.
Eng. Hersi, pictured below, added: “I was heading the signings, welfare of players – we recruited several players and the coach [Nasreddine Nabi].”
Last year, Yanga won the Mapinduzi Cup and finished second in the league. They reached the final of the FA Cup, which was seen as a step towards the massive comeback.
This term, they started the season by lifting the Community Shield after beating Simba 1-0.
“We signed five players at the start of the season. It was a boost; by having the players and the ones we had, the quality of the team became better,” Eng. Hersi added.
Interestingly, the two scorers on Wednesday were new signings this season. Mayele has scored 19 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions, adding four assists to his impressive tally.
In the past, when the Dar es Salaam giants conceded an early goal, fans would be disappointed, knowing coming back from behind would be a challenge as they struggled to get goals. That has since changed.
“When we concede at the beginning of a game, the fans clap for the opponent because they know we can always come back.”
Yanga have signed former Kaizer Chiefs forward Lazarous Kambole, with three other new signings to be announced as the team gears up for the 2023 Caf Champions League.