Azam FC players urged to shrug off inconsistency

A strong start to the 2022/23 season witnessed Azam FC turning into an outfit tipped to be one of the title contenders but a series of dreadful results thereafter had the club losing its grip on the battle for the top honour.

In the last five games, the Chamazi-based club succumbed to a loss in three encounters, recorded one draw, and emerged victorious in one.

The club has, as a result, gradually changed from a title contender to a squad that is ensuring it ends in the top three following a series of poor performances and inconsistent results.

Azam FC is now sitting fourth in the NBC Premier League standings with 47 points after playing 25 games.

The squad has notched 39 goals, the third-highest number of goals scored by an outfit in the league, and 25 goals conceded in the process.

Ongala disclosed his squad's failure to record good results has disturbed the players psychologically but the technical bench talked to the players and kept them in shape.

The coach was adamant that he is confident that they will have good results in the remaining games.

"We have reflected on ourselves, we have communicated with our players and we have told them that they have to get good results," Ongala noted.

Ongala said: "The players need to reflect on themselves, we, the technical bench, should as well do so to return to winning ways in the remaining matches."

The assistant coach added that the squad must change the losing mentality and fight to the end, adding it will be good for the team.

"We have talked to the players so we believe we will have an impact in the coming games, we hope for more action to get good results in our games," Ongala stated.

With Azam FC lately hinging on clinching a top-four finish in the Premier League, the club still has this season's Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) quarterfinals to play for as the outfit is expected to entertain Mtibwa Sugar in the showdown's last eight's tie.

After the international break, Azam FC will welcome Mtibwa Sugar, who have lost back-to-back Premier League games, at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam in the ASFC last-eight clash on April 13.