Ex-SuperSport Striker Nets Hat-trick For Ramovic’s Yanga
Former SuperSport United striker Prince Dube scored a hatrick for Sead Ramovic’s Young Africans as they made it back-to-back victories in the Tanzanian Premier League following a 3-2 win over Mashujaa on Thursday.
Dube opened the scoring in the eighth minute before finding the back of the net for the second time in the 22nd minute. The visitors pulled one back in first-half stoppage time before the Zimbabwean international completed his hattrick eight minutes into the second stanza.
Defender Idrisa Stambuli made it 3-2 in the 62nd minute but the goal only proved to be a consolation to stage a nervy ending for the German coach, who made a step up to the ambitious Tanzanian giants.
Dube, known as Mgadafi, burst into the scene after impressing for Zimbabwe in 2017 with stellar performances at the COSAFA Cup and CHAN qualifiers, catching the eye of Matsatsantsa where he went on to lift the 2017/18 MTN8 title despite lack of game time and a loan stint to Black Leopards.
Meanwhile, Yanga moved up to third place with 30 points and within touching distance of league leaders Azam FC, and fierce arch-rivals Fadlu Davids’ Simba SC, who have racked up 31 points after defeating Ken Gold 2-0 on Wednesday.
While Azam maintains the top spot with 33 points, they have played three more games than the two Dar es Salaam powerhouses, who are juggling between domestic and continental duties due to commitments to their respective CAF interclub competitions.
On the other hand, the former TS Galaxy mentor will be keen to translate their league form to the CAF Champions League where they have significantly struggled to stamp their authority since he took over as they are bottom-placed in group A. Young Africans are yet to register a single win in Africa’s elite club competition, losing their opening two matches to Al Hilal Omdurman and MC Alger with a similar 2-0 scoreline before salvaging a last-gasp draw against TP Mazembe thanks to Dube who took his tally to four goals.
