MAINLAND Premier League defending champions, Young Africans, have started their 2024/2025 season with a commanding 2-0 win against Kagera Sugar.

The match, held at Kaitaba Stadium, showcased the Jangwani-based side’s determination to retain their title as they navigated a challenging pitch to secure all three points in their opening fixture.

Young Africans head coach, Miguel Gamondi, expressed satisfaction with the result but emphasized the need for continued improvement. 

“It’s a good start. Winning with two goals away is always positive,” he said, reflecting on the importance of beginning the season on a strong note.

Gamondi provided insights into how he approached the game from a tactical perspective. 

“It was a good game, but challenging because of the pitch,” he noted, breaking down the match into two distinct halves. 

“In the first half, we played exceptionally well, creating six, seven, maybe eight chances, but we only managed to score one goal. That’s been our problem; we need to be scoring two or three goals per game when we create so many opportunities.”

Young Africans dominated the first half, with their attacking prowess on full display. Despite their numerous chances, only one found the back of the net, thanks to a strike from Maxi Mpia Nzengeli in the 26th minute. This goal set the tone for the rest of the match, with the side maintaining control but failing to fully capitalize on their opportunities.

“The second half was different,” Gamondi explained. “We didn’t play as well and didn’t create as many chances. We had two or three, and we scored one, but the other team only created one real chance, I think. But overall, it’s okay. It’s three points, a good start, and we need to keep progressing. There’s always room for improvement, and it’s important to keep winning as we improve.”

Clement Mzize sealed the victory in the 88th minute with a well-taken goal, ensuring Young Africans left Kaitaba Stadium with a deserved 2-0 win. The victory marks a strong start for the defending champions in a league that features 16 teams, all vying for the coveted title.

On the other side, Kagera Sugar’s head coach, Paul Nkata, expressed pride in his team's resilient performance against a highly experienced Young Africans squad.

“The team we played is very experienced with good players. Most of the players are in the national team, and they are a very hard nut to crack on our side, but it was not easy for them, I can assure you of that. Even the second goal came very late when they were thinking, ‘Maybe let us take one goal,’" Nkata said.

“At least we have seen our mistakes, and we are going to work on them. The next game is going to be a very different story after playing two matches because I have to know who is who and where he can play,” he added.

The victory placed Young Africans among the top teams on three points, having played just one game, while Kagera Sugar found themselves at the bottom of the table after suffering back-to-back defeats.

With their Premier League campaign now underway, Young Africans are also gearing up for their next challenge in the CAF Champions League. Their upcoming match against Ethiopia’s CBE in mid-September is a crucial encounter in the second round of the CAF Champions League preliminary stage.

However, Gamondi expressed concerns about the timing of the fixture. 

“I can’t say too much because we have 14 players on national team duty, so we can’t fully prepare for the game. They’ll only return two or three days before the match,” he pointed out. 

The coach highlighted the difficulties of preparing for a high-stakes match with a squad that will be incomplete until just days before kickoff.

“It’s crucial for us to go to Ethiopia with great determination, especially considering the altitude. We don’t know much about the other team, but our goal is to secure a strong result there so we can finish the qualification at home in Tanzania,” Gamondi added. 

He drew parallels to last season’s experience, where Young Africans faced CR Belouizdad FC in the CAF Champions League following an international break, a situation that presented similar challenges.

The coach also took the opportunity to advise the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the issue of scheduling matches immediately after FIFA international dates. 

“We’ve always said, even last season, that it’s not ideal when they schedule FIFA international dates, and then immediately after, we have a Champions League game. The players travel a lot and play two intense games,” he said, voicing his frustration with the situation.

Gamondi acknowledged that Young Africans might have a slight advantage this time, as many of their players will already be in Ethiopia due to national team duties. However, he insisted that the limited preparation time remains a significant concern. 

“It’s not just us; many teams, like Mamelodi Sundowns, have players on national duty and face this same issue,” he emphasized, calling for CAF to reconsider its scheduling practices.

Young Africans’ victory over Kagera Sugar marks a promising start to their Premier League title defense, but the team is already looking ahead to the challenges that lie ahead in both domestic and continental competitions. 

The squad’s ability to adapt and perform under difficult circumstances, such as the upcoming CAF Champions League match, will be critical to their success this season