Yanga's head coach pours praise on ace defender

14Apr 2023
Nassir Nchimbi
Sport
The Guardian
Yanga's head coach pours praise on ace defender

​​​​​​​YANGA head coach Nasreddine Nabi has poured praise on the outfit's central defender, Ibrahim Abdallah, saying he is a role model for all players that are given a chance to play and directly make it to the starting eleven.

Yanga's central defender, Ibrahim Abdallah. PHOTO: COURTESY OF YANGA

Abdallah, hailing from Zanzibar, has turned into a pearl at the Jangwani Street side and is lately often used by Nabi, playing alongside Bakari Mwamnyeto in 2022/23 NBC Premier League and 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup matches.

The central defender, alias 'Bacca', has been at a go since he started to be trusted by coaches in Yanga.

The player's progress has forced Nabi to ask his outfit's players, as well as the rest in the league, to follow the defender's approach.

Nabi pointed out that he wants to see all players fight and show competition for playing time, as is the case with Abdallah, to have a quality team on the pitch which will be efficiently beefed by quality footballers that start on the bench.

The tactician disclosed: "When there is competition in the team, it gives me a wide scope to choose which player to use in my first team for a particular match which is something good for any coach."

"I enjoy the good level that Hamad has shown since I started believing in him and giving him the chance to play," Nabi said.

"This is a lesson for my players that have not played much this season and all others who want to be better, that when you are given a chance, go use it as you will never have another chance to play," Nabi noted.

"Since he entered the first team he has thrived until now, I remember he made a breakthrough at the Africa Confederation Cup group stage game against US Monastir at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium," Nabi pointed out.

For some players at Yanga, the story might be different given they have failed to impress and break into the starting 11.

The footballers include the likes of winger Dickson Ambundo, attacker Chrispin Ngushi who is out nursing his injuries, and left-back David Bryson.

Last month, Abdallah got the chance to garner a call-up to Tanzania's senior national team, Taifa Stars, now coached by Belgo-Algerian Adel Amrouche.

The center-back managed to play in Taifa Stars' 2023 AFCON qualification matches against Uganda.

Abdallah was instrumental in the Tanzania squad's 1-0 victory over Uganda in Ismailia, Egypt and he thereafter took part in the team's 1-0 defeat to Uganda at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

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