DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans Head Coach Pedro Goncalves expressed immense pride in his players despite the club’s exit from the CAF Champions League, emphasising growth, courage and belief in the team’s long-term project. Speaking after the match, Gonçalves repeatedly underlined his emotions, describing himself as “big, big proud” of the club, the players, and the entire technical staff.
“My first words are proud, proud of that club, proud of that team, proud of my boys, and proud of the staff. Proud of the energy of everyone who has always been here pushing us, believing in us, suffering with us and pushing us to another level,” he said.
A commanding 3–0 victory over JS Kabylie saw the Tanzanian champions finish third in Group B on eight points from six matches behind Al Ahly and FAR Rabat. Two wins, two draws and two defeats represented a respectable return, but not enough to claim one of the two coveted quarter-final spots.
The Portuguese tactician highlighted his side’s commitment to performance and continuous improvement, noting that the focus has always been on development rather than simply results.
“We focus on our performance always. We focus on what we need to do and try to improve little by little. “The boys made a wonderful performance. Perhaps in the end people will think about qualification, especially in a group with three big clubs in Africa and the conditions they have.
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But I am very proud of my players,” he explained. Gonçalves revealed that the technical bench had carefully designed a tactical plan during preparations and praised his players for executing it with determination. While Young Africans did not advance from a challenging group, the coach insisted that competing at such a high level reflects the club’s ambition.
“This club wants to reach other levels. They are fighting a lot for that. I believe all the people of Tanzania should be proud,” he said.
Looking ahead, Gonçalves stressed that the journey is far from over. Though their continental campaign has ended, the team remains focused on domestic objectives. “This is football. Only those who don’t challenge themselves will never reach any place,” he said.
“We are here to continue the challenge. Not in the Champions League now, but we still have a lot to conquer the league, the cup. They are very competitive.” The coach also pointed to the broader progress of Tanzanian football, noting steady improvements in league standards and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Azam FC Head Coach Florent Ibenge has expressed pride in his team’s performance in the CAF Confederation Cup, despite the club falling short of qualification from the group stage.
Speaking after the conclusion of the campaign, Ibenge admitted the challenge was never going to be easy, particularly as it was Azam’s first appearance in the Confederation Cup group phase.
He praised his players for collecting nine points from six matches from three wins and three losses; three short of Maniema’s tally of 12 and well behind Wydad’s commanding 15 that describe the achievement as a strong statement of progress for a team still gaining continental experience.
“It was not an easy task,” Ibenge noted. “This was our first time in the group stage, and earning nine points shows the players did a good job.” Although Azam did not advance to the knockout rounds, the Congolese tactician emphasised that the performance reflects the foundation being built at the club.
He revealed that he was brought in with a clear mission to elevate Azam to a higher level and remains confident that the long-term vision will be realised. “I came here with a mission to make Azam a big club, and I will make that dream come true,” he said.