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Mngqithi: Yanga must master the art of surviving pressure

On Sep 17, 2026

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Dar es Salaam. Young Africans (Yanga) coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Aziz Ki’s red card against Geita Gold has given his team a valuable lesson in resilience as the defending champions prepare for an increasingly demanding domestic and continental campaign.

Yanga had to dig deep to secure a 1-0 victory at the KMC Complex last Tuesday after Ki was sent off, leaving the Jangwani giants to defend their narrow advantage with 10 men as Geita Gold turned up the pressure. But rather than viewing the drama as a setback, Mngqithi sees it as the kind of test that can strengthen Yanga for bigger battles ahead.

“For most of the game, the intensity and mentality of the players were very positive, and that helped us win the game,” said Mngqithi. The South African coach admitted that maintaining such intensity from the opening minutes is never easy, but praised his players for standing firm when the match became increasingly difficult. “When you do that from the first half, it is not easy. I am very happy that my team is gaining experience from games like this because the mentality that comes out of a game like this will take us through even more games to come,” he said.

Ki’s dismissal became the turning point of the contest, forcing Yanga to manage the delicate balance between protecting their lead and continuing to threaten an opponent sensing an opportunity. For Mngqithi, that is precisely the type of situation Yanga must learn to handle if they are to compete effectively in the Caf Champions League. “In the Champions League, you expect situations like this to happen, and you must deal with them during the game,” he said.

Mngqithi demands more

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Mngqithi did not want his players to retreat completely. Instead, he called on them to keep pushing for another goal and put the game beyond Geita Gold’s reach.

“You have to keep pushing, create more opportunities and put the opponent under even more pressure. I am very proud of the players,” he added.

The coach was also encouraged by Ki’s contribution before his dismissal, particularly because the midfielder was making his return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Ki marked his comeback with a goal before his night took a dramatic turn with the red card.

“Getting a goal after such a long layoff is very important. I think the situation that created the goal could easily have resulted in two or three goals, but I am still very happy with his effort and the intensity of the team,” said Mngqithi.

He also welcomed Ki’s ability to continue playing after being fouled, saying it was a positive sign following his long absence. “The fact that he was fouled was also good from a psychological point of view because he knew he was fouled and managed to continue without any relapse. That is very good for the team,” he said.

The victory keeps Yanga among the early pace-setters, but Mngqithi believes the biggest gain from the night may have come from the way his players responded to adversity.

Crédito: Link de origem

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