Yanga SC’s new coach, Fadlu Davids, has touched down in Tanzania with two South African assistants as he starts building his backroom team. The former Raja Casablanca coach has begun assembling his backroom staff following his appointment as Manqoba Mngqithi’s successor at the Tanzanian giants.
Darian Wilken and Mueez Kajee arrived with Davids at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in the early hours of Saturday. Maahier Davids is also expected to join the technical team, while Simo Dladla, who worked under Mngqithi, is set to remain at Yanga. The arrival of the South African duo offers the first indication of what Davids’ support structure will look like as he prepares to begin work with the squad.
Both coaches worked with him at Simba and Raja Casablanca, with Wilken serving as assistant and Kajee as the performance analysis coach. They are expected to hold similar roles at the reigning Tanzania league champions. The former Manning Rangers forward’s first opportunity to assess his squad will come during the upcoming international break, when he is expected to lead his charges on a short training camp in Zanzibar.
HOW DAVIDS’ ARRIVAL AFFECTS YANGA’S EXISTING TECHNICAL TEAM
While Davids brings in familiar faces, Yanga already has several members in its technical structure. FARPost understands that the club has no intention of dispensing with Dladla’s services, with the South African coach expected to continue under the new head coach.
Yanga also has analyst Yardaan Valodia, former Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and goalkeeper coach Greg Etafia. However, it remains unclear whether the trio will retain their positions or have their responsibilities adjusted as the Cape Town-born coach implements his preferred structure.
The full composition of the technical team should become clearer as the former Orlando Pirates assistant coach settles into his new role. Davids returns to Tanzania for a second coaching spell, having previously led Yanga’s fierce rivals, Simba SC. He guided Wekundu Wa Msimbazi to the CAF Confederation Cup final and finished as league runner-up.
Speaking in an interview posted by Yanga shortly after his arrival, he expressed his delight at returning to a country where he feels at home. “I feel happy, I feel Tanzania is home. The people of Tanzania have always welcomed me and showed me love. It’s very good to be back and join this big club,” said Davids.
DAVIDS OUTLINES HIS YANGA REBUILD
The 45-year-old mentor has been tasked with maintaining Yanga’s recent domestic success while introducing his own playing identity. He said conversations with the club president focused on gradually rebuilding the side without losing its competitive edge.
“We wanna create a playing style, a playing philosophy, revamp step by step, continue the success and add in the window and keep Yanga strong and keep Yanga at the top,” he said.
Davids also disclosed that Yanga had approached him twice before, making this their third attempt to secure his services. He believes the move ultimately came down to timing. His appointment comes with Yanga trailing Steve Barker’s unbeaten Simba by five points after 10 league matches.
Yanga lost the Kariakoo Derby to their rivals before drawing with TRA United, leaving the incoming coach with ground to make up in the title race. Despite their recent setbacks and injury concerns, Davids believes the squad has quality and depth across the positions. He promised to establish a playing style that supporters “can be proud of”.
“We won’t stop until we’re back at the top,” he added.
ZANZIBAR CAMP TO GIVE DAVIDS FIRST LOOK AT HIS SQUAD
The planned Zanzibar camp will give Davids and his technical team an opportunity to assess the squad. It will also provide time to prepare ahead of Yanga’s upcoming domestic fixtures and the CAF Champions League group stage. Davids is approaching the continental campaign with ambition, despite the difficult opposition awaiting his new club. Timu ya Wananchi is in the same group with Egyptian giants Zamalek, Algeria’s MC Alger and Club Africain of Tunisia.
“We have the Champions League to look forward to, but as I said, I’m an ambitious coach. I look at the Champions League; although everyone is saying it’s a group of death, everything is possible,” he said.
Davids had also been linked with a return to Morocco to take charge of MAS Fès before joining Yanga.
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