Yanga wins friendly 10-0 after sealing Mayele's replacement

01Aug 2023
Michael Mwebe
DAR ES SALAAM
Sport
The Guardian
Yanga wins friendly 10-0 after sealing Mayele's replacement

PRE-SEASON friendlies are intended to prepare teams for the new competitive campaign, but it is questionable how much Young Africans SC learned from the squad's latest warm-up assignment after commanding a comprehensive 10-0 victory against Magereza Dar in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

 

The friendly, which took place at the NBC Premier League champions’ camp at Avic Town in Kigamboni District, witnessed Kenneth Musonda and Clement Mzize scoring hat-tricks for the club.

New signings, Max Nzengeli, Mahlatse Makudubela, and Pacome Zouzoua also found the back of the net for Young Africans, also known as Yanga, in the distinctly one-sided match.

A few hours after the game, Yanga officially announced the signing of a striker, who has been brought in as Fiston Mayele's replacement after they confirmed the arrival of Ghanaian striker Hafiz Wontah Konkoni.

Konkoni completed a move from Ghana Premier League’s club, Bechem United, where he scored 34 goals in 97 appearances across four seasons.

The tall striker touched down in Dar es Salaam on Saturday to finalize all necessary paperwork for his transfer to the Jangwani Street-based team. 

He was officially unveiled to replace Congolese forward Fiston Mayele who has joined Egyptian side, Pyramids FC.

Mayele was Yanga's top goal scorer in the NBC Premier League in the 2022/23 season, netting 17 goals. He struck 35 times in all competitions in total.

Konkoni's form in the last campaign led to Yanga signing him as they hope he can continue his incredible goalscoring run and fill the big boots left by Mayele's departure.

He had an outstanding season in the 2022-23 campaign after netting 15 goals in 29 league matches, which earned him a call-up to the Ghana national team ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier's duel against Madagascar in June.

Konkoni has already joined his fellow players at the Avic Town camp to begin preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Community Shield matches.

He becomes the eighth new player at Yanga. He joins defenders Nickson Kibabage from Singida Fountain Gate FC, Gift Fredy from SC Villa (Uganda), and Kouassi Attohoula Yao from ASEC Mimosas, as well as midfielder Peodoh Pacôme Zouzoua from ASEC Mimosas.

Others are Jonás Mkude from Simba SC, Mahlatse 'Skudu' Makudubela from Marumo Gallants of South Africa, and Maxi Mpia Nzengeli from  AS Maniema Union of DR Congo.

Fans will have a glimpse of the new look of Yanga on August 9 when the team lock horns with Azam FC in the Community Shield knockout competition at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga. 

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