Hans Van der Pluijm
Hans van der Pluijim?s men go into the decisive encounter with a considerable advantage thanks to a 2-0 home win in the first leg match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam a fortnight ago.
The Dutchman?s charges have of recent proved to be a freescoring side and will certainly enter the Lobatse Sports complex brimming with confidence after recording five back-toback wins in all competitions.
Despite their arm?s length advantage, Pluijm has vowed to be offensive against the Botswana army wardens with a view to getting away goals and kill off the game.
He believes his players will be eager to seal the result but sounded a warning saying they cannot afford to underrate their opponents.
The Dutchman knows quite well that at this level teams can overturn the score and vowed to avoid any upset by going all out for victory rather than resorting to a defensive approach.
Yanga will be without their Brazilian attacking midfielder Andrey Coutinho, who sustained an injury during a league game against Mbeya City last Sunday.
But Pluijim has a lot of options upfront with the likes of Amisi Tambwe, Simon Msuva, Kpah Sherman, Dan Mrwanda, Mrisho Ngasa and Jeryson Tegete available for selection.
Tambwe will likely spearhead his side?s attack thanks to his heroic performance in the first leg, in which the Burundian hitman scored both goals. But Msuva and Ngasa could be Pluijim?s secret weapons on Friday.
The former has recently enjoyed a good run in-front of goal domestically while the latter?s pace and tricks could prove to be valuable assets on counter-attacks.
Defensively, Yanga should be alert and concentrated throughout the game since BDF XI will likely come all out because they need to score more than two goals to have any chance.
Skipper Nadir Haroub believes their recent good run of results will boost their morale going into today?s tie and urged all Tanzanians to rally behind them as they will be flying the country?s flag in Gaborone.
?Everyone should pray for us and rally behind our team because we?re representing the country,? begged Haroub, who promised to fight hard and protect their lead against the BDF XI. BDF XI coach Letang Kgwengwenyane employed a defensive approach in the first leg but the tactic did not help them.
There was a lot of uncertainty about BDF XI?s participation in the CAF Confederation Cup this year and apparently suffered from inadequate preparation.
But skipper Mompati Thuma says the lack of adequate time for preparation would not be a hindrance. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has wished all the best to the country?s representatives in the CAF clubs competitions ? Azam FC, KMKM, Yanga and Polisi Zanzibar in their respective preliminary round, return leg encounters this weekend.
Yanga are in Botswana locking horns with BDF IX today, while Azam battle it with Sudanese giants El-Merreikh in Khartoum in the CAF Champions League tomorrow with the Mainland champions having a 2-0 win in their first leg match.
In Zanzibar, KMKM will welcome Al Hilal from Sudan in the CAF Champions League clash at the Amaan Stadium. The host must win 3-0 clear goals to harbour any realistic hopes of progressing to the first round.
Their compatriots Polisi Zanzibar, who have an uphill task, will host CF Mounana from Gabon on Sunday in the Confederations Cup, needing miracles to overturn the 5-0 defeat to qualify for the next round.
Source Tanzania Daily News
