Yanga set bar for Lwandamina

ZAMBIAN tactician George Lwandamina alias ‘Chicken’ was officially unveiled to journalists yesterday as Young Africans new Head Coach, promising not to make big changes in the current squad and technical staff.

The former Zesco United tactician was introduced to journalists and some club members at the club house in Dar es Salaam by Vice-Chairman Clement Sanga.

Sanga said the leadership is confident that the new coach will take the team places and succeed from where his predecessor Dutchman, Hans van der Pluijm has left. Lwandamina said that he has no plans of making any changes of the technical bench after taking charge of the team, replacing Pluijm, who has been appointed as the club’s Technical Director.

This clarification from Zambian tactician came amid speculations that he is going to disband the whole technical bench by bringing in an assistant coach from Zambia. Lwandamina expressed confidence of being a success at the club, despite admitting that he has a difficult task ahead to ensure the team maintains its performance to retain the Mainland Premier League title.

“I have been given a difficult task ... but this is part of new challenge, which I am ready to face at the best of my ability, to ensure the team do better and this can be achieved with support from everyone in the club,” he said.

Lwandamina has also refuted reports that he has recommended recruitment of Zesco United duo Kenyan striker, Jesse Were and Zambian midfielder Misheck Chaila, saying he has confidence with the current squad. Were and Chaila have also denied they are about to join ex-coach George Lwandamina at Yanga.

The Zambian was on the stands when Yanga beat Ruvu Shooting 2-1 at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam in their last match of the first leg of the league and he took a lot of positives from what he saw.

He also commended the job well done by his predecessor and promised to emulate his good work by working hand in hand with the Dutchman to ensure Yanga get to higher level.

Lwandamina will now take the team through the second leg of the league and met the returning players yesterday before the second leg resumes on December 17th, this year. The league defending champions are currently settled in the second position of the league on 33 points, two below leaders Simba.

The new technical bench will be under Pluijm (Technical Director), Lwandamina (Head Coach), Juma Mwambusi (Assistant Coach), Juma Pondamali (Goalkeepers Trainer), Hafidh Saleh (Team Manager), Edward Bavu, Jacob Onyango (Physicians) and Mohamed Omar as Kit Manager.

Pluijm took charge of Yanga in 2014 and has led the club in total of 128 in both competitive and friendly matches winning 80 games, 25 draws and losing 23

He has won three league titles, Charity Shield and Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC). He also guided the Jangwani Street side to the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederation Cup this year.

Source: Daily News