Gamondi downplays Yanga's exit from 2024 Mapinduzi Cup

In a game played at New Amaan Complex, Yanga opened the score 23 minutes into the encounter through Jesus Moloko, but Sanda Soulei leveled matters for APR FC during added-on time at the end of the first half.

After the restart, APR FC came out more rejuvenated, dominating proceedings as they got a penalty after four minutes.

Victor Mbaoma stepped up to send Yanga’s goalkeeper the wrong way to give APR FC the lead in the 50th minute.

Substitute Sharaf Shiboub doubled the lead in the 79th minute, a goal that was the icing on the cake to help the Rwanda Premier League reigning champion progress to the semi-finals.

The Argentinian coach did not hide his disappointment with the result as his much-changed team was edged out by a spirited APR FC.

He downplayed the tournament by admitting he used it to give playing time to fringe and youth players.

Gamondi said: “Football is like that. We played a very good first half. Maybe we deserved to score one or two more goals."

“Three minutes into the break we made a bad mistake to play the ball in the center and they equalized,” he noted.

“In the second half, we did not deserve much because the team was disorganized and the other team could have scored more goals after the second one. It is okay, it is football. Everybody knows we came without fourteen players,” the coach revealed.

He pointed out: “We have eight players on national team duties. We have some players like Aucho, Zouzoua, and even Yao with injuries, Salum Abubakar 'Sure Boy' is injured as well while Jonas Mkude had a personal problem today.”

“This tournament was to give minutes to players who did not play regularly, especially for the youth. You see today, out of 20, we had 16 players from Tanzania,” Gamondi revealed.

The coach noted: “We need to congratulate the other team but, for us, the most important things are the league, the Azam Sports Federation Cup, and the CAF Champions League.”

He explained: “We took this tournament as preparation, evaluation. I evaluated these four games, some players we see the level and who needs to continue to improve.”