Woes for Yanga ahead of tight title race
The latest rumors in Dar es Salaam and how it could affect their chances at a title
DAR es SALAAM, Tanzania — Following a tight CAF Champions League quarterfinals matchup with Sundowns that saw Yanga exit on penalties, a swarm of rumors has followed The Young Stars into their Tanzanian Super League title fight.
Yanga reportedly faces transfer ban from FIFA
Yanga was hit with a FIFA sanction early this morning for “violating” Article 3 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). It appears as Yanga did not enter evidence of payment to a club for a transfer and violated regulations outlined in the RSTP.
Yanga will not be able to make any transfers at all after the Tanzania Football Federation followed FIFA’s decision and banned the club from registering any local players.
Neither FIFA nor The TFF revealed the name of the player that Yanga failed to register. However, the player is most likely Augustine Okrah, who arrived in January from Bechem United, the only winter transfer for Yanga.
Yanga has not commented on the situation yet.
The deal could be particularly damaging for a Yanga squad that looked to be active in the transfer market starting in the summer. The team was linked with Medeama attacker Jonathan Sowah, Chiefs’ Ranga Chivaviro, and also looked to ship several players out to foreign teams.
However, the ban does not look like it will be a long-term one, as they will likely only have to update information in the Transfer Machine System and clear out their ban with FIFA.
Yanga previously suffered pressure from FIFA after a pay dispute with former player Gael Bigirimana. Bigirimana accused Yanga of holding off a significant chunk of his salary. FIFA ordered Yanga to pay Bigirimana and restricted the club from bringing in new players until they paid him.
Gamondi hints at exit
After their controversial Champions League exit at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns, Yanga head coach Miguel Gamondi told press that he was unsure about his future with the squad.
Despite a successful season — his squad is first in the Premier League table, and he achieved a quarterfinal appearance in the Champions League, the farthest they’ve ever gone in the competition — Gamondi made no promises of staying at Yanga beyond this season.
His contract expires at the end of this year, although it does have an extension clause based on the club’s performances in the season.
"I cannot reveal my next plan with the club while I am not sure if I will be with the team," Gamondi told reporters at the post-game presser, per The Citizen. “Regarding plans for next season? It's still early to know whether I will be here or not.”
Gamondi’s squad has embodied versatility throughout the season, as they look capable of playing a possession-oriented, slow-tempo, conservative style of play similar to Guardiola with Manchester City. However, they showed that they were able to dominate the game without the ball in their two matches against Sundowns, leaping off the counter-attack and creating multiple chances in their limited time.
If Gamondi decided to take his chances at another club, it’s unclear who Yanga would hire as a replacement. Bafana Bafana legend Neil Tovey favors Gamondi returning to South Africa and taking charge of the inconsistent Kaizer Chiefs.
"Well, Sundowns are a big team and he won them the league, so definitely, he can handle the pressure. He will need an assistant coach who understands the club and the environment though,” Tovey told KickOff. “Personally I've got no problem [being his assistant]. I'd love to help Chiefs, I've always said that."
Aziz Ki set to sign a two-year extension
Star striker Stephane Aziz Ki will sign a two-year extension to remain at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, dismissing rumors of an exit to Rwanda or South Africa. Despite interest coming from Mamelodi Sundowns, Esperance Tunis, and Rwandan giants APR, Yanga looked to tie down Aziz Ki to avoid losing him on a free transfer and keep him until the 2025-26 season.
“I have no expectations of leaving Yanga at the moment because I have not achieved the goals that brought me here,” the Ivorian striker said. “This club, which I love with all my heart, still owes me, and even money cannot fill the love I have for this club.”
Per IPP Media, one of Aziz Ki’s biggest demands was that Yanga sign a competent striker this summer, which the club agreed to. However, the striker’s identity is not known yet.
Aziz Ki has two goals and two assists in 12 Champions League appearances. The right winger nearly struck home in the controversial second-leg quarterfinals matchup against Sundowns, but officials ruled his shot did not cross the line.