Mtibwa Sugar’s new head coach Salum Mayanga follows proceeding during a past league match. PHOTO | FILE
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The Morogoro giants have lost four dependable players during this transfer window, but team coordinator Jamal Bayser is confident that Mtibwa Sugar will come back stronger than last season.
Dar es Salaam. Mtibwa Sugar leaders have exuded confidence of genuinely contending for the Vodacom Premier League title despite losing players to rivals.
The Morogoro giants have lost four dependable players during this transfer window, but team coordinator Jamal Bayser is confident that Mtibwa Sugar will come back stronger than last season.
“Well, we have lost our four players, but we have replaced them with equally brilliant players, so the Mtibwa Sugar management believes that the team will be more competitive in the forthcoming season,” he said.
Mtibwa Sugar saw their reliable defender Andrew Vincent cross to the Mainaland champions, Young Africans while Mohamed Ibrahim, Shiza Kichuya and Muzamiru Yassin all signed for Simba Sports Club.
“We understand that our fans are a bit concerned over the departure of the quartet, but let me assure them that Mtibwa Sugar will get even better with new players,” he said.
Bayser added: “We are already done with transfers and now our focus is on preparing the team for the new season.”
Mtibwa Sugar also parted ways with long-serving head coach Mecky Mexime who decamped to Kagera Sugar on a season-long contract. The Manungu based club will now be under the tutelage of Salum Mayanga who was the head coach of Tanzania Prisons last season.
“Mayanga has successful season with Tanzania Prisons, so after partying ways with Mexime we decided to bring his expertise to our club. We trust him and hopefully he will lead the team to glory,” he said.
He said they have secured the services of former Mwadui FC striker Rashid Mandawa as well as Cassian Ponera of Mtwara region side, Ndanda FC.
Mtibwa Sugar last won the league title in the 1999/2000 season and Bayser believes that they will be genuine contenders for the title in the 2016/17 season.