Pluijm: Yanga struggle for quality squad

It is something that has always frustrated the media by denying them juicy headlines but is a policy that has served well the experienced Dutch tactician.

However, in the past five games, coach Pluijm though sticking to his policy of not talking about individual performances, has publicly lamented about his team unconvincing performances in matches many expected them to dominate proceedings.

In the two matches against APR and Federation Cup knockout tie against Ndanda as well as a crucial league clash against Kagera Sugar, he said he was not pleased with his team’s performance despite getting the desired results.

The major concern from these four games is squad’s depth. They highlighted a worrying lack of depth to the Yanga squad, in both quality and quantity.

Yanga’s first-choice starting line-up is of good quality, if indeed one of this season’s best in the league. A tight league race, however, as well as competing in the CAF Champions League and the Federation Cup requires good squad depth.

This season Yanga are too dependent on a few key players whose exclusion in the squad totally changes the team’s rhythm. First, most of the substitutes have been far from making a case for their inclusion into the starting XI. Second, they are hardly youth prospects to push the substitutes and the key players into stepping up their game.

Let us look at each department. In the defence, Kelvin Yondani and Haji Mwinyi are irreplaceable. VicentBossou and Nadir Haroub can compete for a starting place but who else can push to replace Yondani?

The back up players in the midfield and attacking departments are simply not good enough.The midfield options beyond the first-choice of Zimbabwean and Rwandan imports, Thaban Kamusoko and Haruna Niyonzima is alarmingly thin.

The two midfielders have to play each and every match unless if they are injured or suspended, otherwise the team loses its midfield vibrancy.

Imagine a scenario where the duo are out for a lengthy period of time and Yanga are forced to turn to the likes of Salum Telela and Juma Makapu.

Telela and Makapu are two hard-working and very determined but they are simply not good enough to be able and competent replacement for Niyonzima and Kamusoko.

Who can replace Donald Ngoma if he gets injured or loses form due to being burned out? There is hardly anyone.

Paul Nonga and Malimi Busungu have made a few appearances and even scored a couple of goals, but have both failed to put convincing cases as to why they deserve starting positions.

Matheo Anthony with each cameo appearance he gets, he is only succeeding in proving why he is not even good enough to make it to the Yanga bench on most crucial match days. He seems out of depth as he struggles with confidence and battles injuries.

Geoffrey Mwashiuya is the only youth prospect pushing for a place but one would be forgiven if he points out it is due to Simon Msuva’s frustrating form.

At the moment Yanga have passed the hard test but with more crucial games ahead and spread within a short period of time, is such a thin squad capable of competing in three competitions?

Only time will tell, but as things stand the quantity and quality of our squad is a matter of concern and should be addressed in the next transfer window.