HEAD coach Hamad Ally admitted his side paid the price for a lack of tactical discipline after JKT Tanzania suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to defending champions Young Africans SC in a Mainland Premier League match played on Wednesday evening at KMC Complex in Mwenge, Dar es Salaam.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, JKT Tanzania showed encouraging signs in the opening half. They matched Young Africans in intensity and organization for large spells, although the champions went into the break with a 1-0 lead courtesy of an early strike in the seventh minute. Mohammed Hussein ‘Tshabalala’ calmly finished off a well-worked move initiated by Prince Dube to give the Jangwani Street-based side the advantage. 

Looking to turn the tide after the interval, Hamad (pictured) made three substitutions at the start of the second half. Attacking midfielder Mohamed Bakari, left-back Karim Fikiri and right-back Anuary Kilemile were withdrawn for Laurian Makame, David Bryson and Hamis Salum respectively. However, the tactical reshuffle appeared to unsettle JKT Tanzania rather than strengthen them. 

Young Africans capitalized ruthlessly, scoring two quick goals in a short span to take full control of the contest. The rapid double blow left JKT Tanzania visibly shaken and struggling to regain structure.  

Further changes followed, with Salehe Karabaka and Sospeter Bajana making way for Tepsi Evance and Edward Songo, but the situation deteriorated even more as the visitors conceded two additional goals in the final three minutes. 

Speaking after the match, Hamad (pictured) conceded it was simply not his team’s day. 

“It was not a good day for us. Both halves were not good. I think we were not comfortable. We believe in playing football, but we created many problems for ourselves and that allowed our opponents to get the result,” he said. 

He emphasized that the defeat served as a valuable lesson, particularly in maintaining tactical discipline and concentration. 

“We have learned many things. The most important lesson today is tactical discipline. When we have the ball and when we don’t have the ball, we must maintain high concentration from the first minute to the last,” he said. 

The defeat marks JKT Tanzania’s heaviest loss of the 2025/26 campaign. They will now have a two-week break before returning to action on March 13 against Namungo FC at Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa, Lindi, as the Premier League continues.