Multiple Tanzanian Premier League winners Yanga SC are in the country for Wednesday’s CAF Confederation Cup Match Day 3 three fixture against Kenyan giants Gor Mahia at Kasarani Stadium.
On arrival, the squad turned down transport and accommodation offered to them by the hosts, instead arranging for the same on their own.
“We went to pick them at the airport (JKA) but they refused to use the bus we hired for them, instead using a City Hoppa Bus.
“They will be putting up at Rosters Hotel along Thika Road when we offered a better accommodation,” an official of Gor, who went to pick them told Kahawa Tungu.
Belief in black magic “Juju” is still rampant in African football and more often than not traveling teams avoid using anything offered to them by their hosts for fear of falling victims to underworld tactics.
Yanga, who have been struggling financially made the trip without seven key players including new signings.
Former JKU midfield prodigy Faisal Salum, Jaffart Mohammed, Mrisho Ngassa and Deus Kaseke, who joined the team recently, will all miss the clash.
Also absent is Congolese new-catch Heretier Makambo, who the club failed to secure his International Transfer Cerficate (ITC) in time.
Two main defenders in Kelvin Yondani and Hassan Jesse have decided not to make the trip until the club commits to giving them new improved contracts.
Meanwhile Gor Mahia players are scheduled to meet the management this evening to iron out issues that have threatened to break the team in the past few days.
The players on Friday embarrassed the country when they refused to pick their Cecafa Kagame Cup runners-up medals in Tanzania over pay row, leading to a two-year ban from the competition by the organizers.
One player, who didn’t want to be mentioned regretted their action.
“It’s finally dawning on us that we made a big mistake, I personally will apologize on behalf of my colleagues; we were reckless,” the player admitted to Kahawa Tungu.
The players vowed to boycott the match against Yanga if they don’t receive 70% of the Kshs 1m prize money club won by virtue of finishing third in the regional tournament as winning bonus.
“The game is very important and we can’t afford to lose or draw just because of what has happened. I hope and pray that today’s meeting ends well,” he added.
Gor are second in Group D of the continental competition with two points after two matches.
The other members of the group includes USM Alger of Algeria and Rwanda’s Rayon Sports.
The Game will kick-off at 7:00 PM Kenyan time and will be aired live by close to ten TV stations across Africa and the rest of the world.
Read: Azam eliminate Gor Mahia from Cecafa Kagame Cup At The Semi-Finals
Yanga’s Squad
Goalkeepers
Youthe Rostand
Beno Kakolanya
Defenders
Juma Abdul
Andrew Vincent ‘Dante’
Abdallah Shaibu ‘Ninja’
Mwinyi Haji Mwingali
Pato Ngonyani
Gadiel Michael
Midfielders
Said Juma ‘Makapu’
Said Musa ‘Ronaldo ‘
Juma Mahadhi
Papy Kabamba Tshishimbi
Pius Buswita
Ibrahim Ajib
Geoffrey Mwashiuya
Emmanuel Martin
Strikers
Yohana Oscar Nkomola
Amisi Tambwe
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