Harambee Stars Midfielder to Work Under Third Coach This Season as Tanzanian Giants Sack Portuguese Boss

For the third time this season, Harambee Stars midfielder Duke Abuya will play under a new coach at Yanga.

Abuya started the season with the Tanzanian giants under Romain Folz before he was sacked and Portuguese tactician Pedro Goncalves appointed last October but now, the ex-Angola coach is gone.

Abdihamid Moalin and Patrick Mabedi have been put in charge as Yanga look to make it five league titles in a row.

Goncalves was sacked on Wednesday after seven months in charge as Yanga maintained their league dominance but bowed out of the CAF Champions League at the group stages and just last week lost the Muungano Cup to bitter rivals Simba SC.

His penultimate match was the Kariokoo Derby which Yanga came from behind to draw 2-2 against Simba last Sunday before he guided them to a 1-0 win over KMC on Wednesday to maintain their five-point lead at the summit of the standings after which his sacking was confirmed.

“The management of Young Africans Sports Club would like to inform the public that it has terminated the services of head coach Pedro Goncalves,” Yanga said in a statement confirming Goncalves’ departure.

"The club’s leadership thanks coach Pedro Goncalves for his contribution during his time at the club and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

"During this period, the team will be under the guidance of coach Abdihamid Moalin together with coach Patrick Mabedi until the end of the season.”

It is not clear why Yanga parted ways with the 50-year-old but pressure has been growing with a section of fans reportedly unhappy with the team’s style of play and the inconsistent run of results even if their team was top of the table.

Yanga were hoping for a deep run in the Champions League this season and hired Goncalves, seeking to benefit from his experience on the continent as the former Angola coach had won the COSAFA Cup last year.

However, they could not get out of a tough group that had record champions Al Ahly of Egypt, Algerian side JS Kabylie and AS FAR Rabat of Morocco, who are set to play this season’s final,against South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns.

Abuya remains a key player for Yanga and the many coaching changes at the club have not affected his position or standing in the team.