Yanga and Geita Gold head into tomorrow’s NBC Premier League clash at KMC Complex with both sides promising a competitive contest as they seek to strengthen their positions in the league.
Yanga coach Manqoba Mngqithi has warned his players against underestimating Geita Gold, saying the visitors have the quality, experience and technical leadership to make the match difficult.
Geita Gold coach Zuber Katwila, meanwhile, says his players have been psychologically prepared to face Yanga and will seek to capitalise on any mistakes made by the league giants.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference yesterday, Mngqithi said Yanga were ready for the encounter but expected a tough test from a Geita Gold side that has shown its ability to challenge other teams in the competition.
“We are ready because we are going to meet a team with experienced players and a knowledgeable coach, so it will be a competitive match,” Mngqithi said.
He said Geita Gold’s performances against other Premier League sides meant Yanga could not afford to approach the match casually.
Yanga defender Mohamed Hussein said the team had used the available time to prepare for the game despite the limited period between matches.
He said the players understood the threat posed by Geita Gold’s individual talent and were determined to fight for a positive result.
“We know Geita Gold are a good team with talented individual players, but we have prepared ourselves to fight and get a positive result,” Hussein said.
Katwila said Geita Gold would rely on collective effort to contain Yanga, whom he described as a big and quality side.
He said his team’s previous encounters with other top-flight clubs had given the players the experience needed to handle the pressure of facing Yanga.
“We respect Yanga and recognise their quality and status. We have prepared our players psychologically to face a better team. If they make mistakes, we will use those mistakes to get a result,” Katwila said.
The match promises to be a test of Yanga’s ability to break down a determined opponent, while Geita Gold will be seeking to turn their defensive discipline and opportunism into a result against one of the league’s leading sides.