Young Africans vice-chairman, Clement Sanga confirmed Lwandamina’s arrival at the club, saying the Zambian coach will start his reign ahead of the top flight’s second round due to commence next month.
“It is true that we have entered a contract with George Lwandamina, formerly with Zambia side Zesco United. He will start training our team during the second round of the Premier League,” Sanga said. The Yanga leader said the decision to bring in Lwandamina aimed at giving their team a new lease of life as the club craves to scale new heights, both domestically and internationally.
Sanga said the changes did not imply that Pluijm’s performance was below standards, but rather sought to give the team a new perspective and more improvements. “Seeking further improvements to the team, the management decided to bring in a new challenge in order to make our team stronger and competitive in various competitions we’ll be taking part in,” Sanga explained.
Sanga also spoke about the fate of Dutch trainer, Pluijm, who is set to remain with the club as technical director after Yanga management successfully persuaded him to stay, having initially rebuffed the new post. “We’ll keep working with our coach Hans Van Pluijm as director of the technical bench. He’s an experienced trainer and knows well Yanga, hence his advice and experience will be the catalyst for success for the technical bench and the club as a whole,” he eulogised.
It is the first time a Zambian coach has been assigned to lead the club’s technical bench. Lwandamina will join up with his new squad when players return from holiday on Friday. The league holders who currently occupy second slot after amassing 35 points, two adrift of leaders Simba, plan to stage a camp outside the country ahead of second round matches due to get underway on December 17.
Lwandamina guided Zambian side Zesco United to the Caf Champions League semifinals this year, whilst Pluijm helped Yanga to the group stage of CAF Confederation Cup. Van Pluijm inspired Yanga to the double last season winning the league title convincingly before defeating Azam FC in the final of the Federation Cup. Yanga will represent Tanzania in the CAF Champions League.
This will be Lwandamina’s first assignment outside of Zambia where he was in charge of his former side Mufulira Wanderers, Green Buffaloes, Kabwe Warriors as well as Red Arrows before he was named Chipolopolo coach in May 2015 guiding Zambia to the Chan 2016 quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Sanga said Juma Mwambusi remains as the club’s assistant coach for now, noting that incoming Lwandamina will decided whether to keep him as his right-hand man or bring in new assistant.
