DEFENDING champions Young Africans Sports Club continued their dominant run in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League with a resounding 4-0 victory over Pamba Jiji FC of Mwanza.

The match, held at the Azam Complex in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam, saw Young Africans extend their unbeaten run while demonstrating their depth and tactical prowess.

Young Africans wasted no time asserting their dominance, with defender Ibrahim Hamad, popularly known as ‘Bacca,’ opening the scoring in the 5th minute through a well-executed set piece. The goal set the tone for the match and showcased the team’s attention to detail in set-piece situations this season.

As the first half progressed, Young Africans continued to press forward. Their relentless attack paid off just before halftime when Burkinabe midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki converted a penalty in the 45th minute, doubling their lead. 

Pamba Jiji FC's challenge became even tougher when defender Saleh Abdullah was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 44th minute, leaving them a man down for the remainder of the match.

Young Africans head coach Miguel Gamondi expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, emphasizing the depth of his squad and their ability to capitalize on set pieces.

“We gave opportunities, especially since we have a big squad with good players. They need to be patient and wait for their moment. Sometimes, a player may have ups and downs, and we need to make adjustments,” Gamondi said.

He added: “We anticipated that the opponent would play a low block, and we decided to go with two strikers. Jean Baleke, who hadn’t played in a while, performed very well. I’m extremely happy with the team’s performance.”

Gamondi praised his team’s ability to break through Pamba Jiji’s defensive structure, crediting the early set-piece goal for making the game easier to control.

The second half saw more of the same dominance from Young Africans. Congolese midfielder Maxi Mpia Nzengeli added a third goal in the 54th minute, effectively sealing the match. 

Pamba Jiji struggled to cope with the continued pressure, especially with only 10 men on the field. Zambian striker Kennedy Musonda capped off the victory in the 85th minute, scoring the fourth and final goal.

Young Africans' defensive record was also extended, with this 4-0 win marking their ninth consecutive clean sheet. 

Coach Gamondi took pride in the team’s defensive stability, noting that they have not conceded a goal since their CAF Confederation Cup final against USM Alger.

“The last goal we conceded was in the final against USM Alger. This reflects the great work by our defenders and the whole team’s defensive effort,” Gamondi remarked. “I’m very happy and proud to coach these players.”

With the victory, Young Africans climbed to 12 points from four matches, continuing their strong start to the season. In contrast, Pamba Jiji FC remain on just four points from seven games, struggling to find consistency.

Pamba Jiji's day was made even more difficult by the red card shown to Abdullah for a rough challenge on Young Africans' Congolese defender Chadrack Isaka Boka. Playing with 10 men for over half the match proved too much for the Mwanza-based side, and Young Africans took full advantage.

The Tanzania Premier League will now pause for the FIFA international break, with Tanzania set to play two back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against DR Congo on October 10 and 15.

When the league resumes, all eyes will turn to the highly anticipated Dar es Salaam Derby between Young Africans and their fierce rivals Simba SC on October 19. The derby is expected to be a thrilling encounter with both teams in strong form. 

Meanwhile, Pamba Jiji will look to regroup when they face Kagera Sugar on October 21, aiming to turn their fortunes around after a tough start to the season.

As the season progresses, Young Africans' combination of attacking flair, defensive solidity, and tactical acumen continues to make them the team to beat in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League.