DEFENDING champions Young Africans Sports Club (Yanga) stormed to the top of the Mainland Premier League table with a commanding 5-0 victory over JKT Tanzania on Wednesday evening, with head coach Pedro Gonçalves hailing the emphatic result as proof of his side’s resilience during a punishing run of fixtures.

Speaking after the dominant display at the KMC Complex in Mwenge, Dar es Salaam, the Portuguese tactician (pictured) expressed pride in his squad’s commitment, particularly given the tight turnaround between matches.

“I feel good for sure. We worked hard for that and the boys delivered everything,” he said. “As I said before the game, we are taking it match by match. Today we didn’t even have 72 hours between matches, which is what the rules usually recommend. These have been very intense games.”

Young Africans set the tone early, with Mohamed Hussein ‘Tshabalala’ opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Further goals from Laurindo Dilson Maria Aurélio ‘Depu’, Mudathir Yahya Abbas, Prince Mpumelelo Dube and Shekhan Ibrahim Khamis completed a ruthless performance that underlined the champions’ attacking depth.

The victory marked Young Africans’ ninth win of the campaign, extending their unbeaten run and lifting them to 28 points at the summit of the league standings. They now boast an impressive record of nine wins and one draw, alongside a formidable goal difference of +25.

Despite the comprehensive scoreline, Gonçalves insisted the encounter was more competitive than it appeared on paper.

“When you watch 5-0, yes, we deserved it,” he explained. “But after the third goal, JKT lost some motivation. The match was very, very intense. Maybe the result does not show the real difference between the teams, but I think we deserved the win for sure.”

The coach was quick to highlight the physical toll on his players amid a congested fixture schedule that has seen the team face Namungo and JKT Tanzania within a short span, with another high-stakes match looming this weekend.

“The performance was fantastic, especially considering we were back on the pitch so soon after our last game,” he noted. “While the regulations usually require around a 70-hour recovery window, we are navigating a very intense schedule. Despite this high density of fixtures, the squad has delivered in every aspect.”

Gonçalves praised his players’ resilience and hunger to improve, emphasizing that their mentality has been crucial in maintaining momentum at the top of the table.

“The boys delivered everything. It’s a great feeling to score five goals and reach the top of the table. This is exactly what we prepared for,” he said. “The players gave their all, and our focus remains on taking this journey one match at a time.”

He also addressed questions surrounding his increasingly effective double-striker system, which has added a new attacking dimension to Young Africans’ play. While the approach has drawn praise for its cutting edge, the coach downplayed the significance of formations, stressing instead tactical intelligence and adaptability.

“Yes, it’s working if we do the job with competence,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter so much about the formation. What matters is our dynamic and our interpretation of the game. It’s about understanding how the opponent presses, or doesn’t press, and how we manage the profiles of our players.”

Whether deploying a 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 system, Gonçalves believes his squad’s growing tactical awareness has been central to their recent dominance.

“If today we started in 4-4-2, the boys made a very good job because they understood what was required,” he added.

With momentum firmly on their side, attention now shifts to the highly anticipated Dar Derby against arch-rivals Simba Sports Club, scheduled for Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

“The next match is the big derby, always a big motivation,” Gonçalves said. “We are now at the top of the table and we want to stay there. For sure, we will face our big rivals and everybody will do their best to help the team.”

With Simba sitting close behind and eager to close the gap, Young Africans will be aiming to leverage their tactical fluidity, goal-scoring form and unbeaten streak to tighten their grip on the title race in what promises to be another thrilling chapter of Tanzanian football’s fiercest rivalry.