MWANZA: AZAM FC’s title charge faces a massive hurdle at CCM Kirumba Stadium today, with Head Coach Florent Ibenge missing five key men for the clash against a dangerous Pamba Jiji FC.
The “Ice Cream Makers” arrived in the rock city with a thinnedout roster, as Ibenge confirmed that five key figures have been sidelined.
The defensive and creative spine of the team has been dealt a blow, with Saadun Nasoro, Ben Zitoun, Sopu Abdul, Edward Manyama and Yahya Zaid all ruled out of contention.
Despite the missing stars, Ibenge is under no illusions about the task at hand.
Pamba Jiji have found a rich vein of form, and the Azam boss is preaching extreme caution.
“Pamba are in a strong position and playing with real confidence,” Ibenge warned.
“We have to be disciplined and clinical. In a game like this, we must make every chance count.” Pragmatism seems to be the order of the day for the visitors.
While Azam usually hunt for all three points, Ibenge admitted that a draw might be a tactical necessity if the game stays tight.
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“We fight for the win, but if we can’t take three points, we must at least take one,” he added.
In the opposite dugout, Pamba Jiji tactician Francis Baraza senses an opportunity to topple the giants.
With his squad at full strength, he is ready to exploit Azam’s selection headache. “Our players are in excellent condition and ready to compete,” a confident Baraza stated.
“Azam have quality, but we are well-organised and hungry. These are crucial points for us and we will fight fiercely to keep them in Mwanza.”
With five regulars out, the spotlight shifts to Azam’s bench depth. Ibenge must now rely on his fringe players to step up in the cauldron of Kirumba, while Pamba Jiji look to use their home-crowd advantage to suffocate the visitors’ rhythm.
It is a classic test of a “big club’s” resilience against a rising midtable force.