Winning in Africa is now our biggest ambition – Kennedy Musonda

Published: Saturday, 07 December 2024

Young Africans SC striker Kennedy Musonda says while the club’s dominance in Tanzania is appreciated by the their ever-growing fanbase, the team is more determined than ever to taste continental success.

Musonda was speaking to CAFOnline ahead of Yanga’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Group A clash against MC Alger set to take place on Saturday evening.

The Tanzanian champions suffered a shock 2-0 loss at home when they played host to Sudanese side, Al Hilal last week - a result they will need to immediately put behind them when facing the Algerians who drew against TP Mazembe.

The Zambian striker shares his sides ambitions on the continent and what would be required of them to go beyond last season’s quarter-final finish.

Kennedy you have done exceptionally since joining the club, what can you attribute this to?

It’s hard work and team spirit that exists here at the club. I have had the right players around me and family who believe in me. Having a positive environment and hard-working teammates and coaches around you really helps and improves you as a player.

You are currently third on the table in the domestic league with Azam and Simba ahead of you, any concerns with this particular position or would you say it’s still early in the season?

I think it’s a marathon and not a sprint and it would be too early to write us off because if you look at football, there are ups and downs, but the most important thing is how you finish. It’s not the most ideal position but we are not worried.

We have to work hard and reclaim our spot and that is something we will continue working towards.

Now looking at the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, you started off with a disappointing 2-0 loss, how do you bounce back from this?

Well, I think most players have been here.

I mean for two to three seasons if you look at the history, we have lost the opening (group) game twice in a row so I am not saying we are used to it but we do know how to react and that is what needs to happen again this weekend.

The result was disappointing, but we have to put it behind us and focus at the big task at hand now.

You have a big clash away from home against MC Alger, what do you think is required for the team to get a result in such a tough outing?

The most important thing for us is to get a result in our next game and we are working on it tirelessly to ensure that we come back strong.

The most important thing is to not focus on our previous result. We need to put in 100% and make sure that we rise to the party. It is an away game against a good side, but I think when you are at this level, you have to give 100% and be focused irrespective of where you are playing.

The rest of the group is equally tough with all teams very much capable of advancing. How important will mental toughness be in the rest of your group matches?

I think mental toughness is number one. Above everything else it is the most important.

I think if you are mentally ready, your body reacts accordingly and if the whole team is on the same level mentally, it will definitely give us that added competitive edge.

The team has been tipped to be a future African champion in the near future, what do you make of this, and do you think this could be the season?

I think if you look at how we have grown over the last seasons, you have to count us amongst ones to look out for in the future. We reached the final of the CAF Confederation Cup and when we participated in the CAF Champions League, we went on to the quarter finals, so I think the most important thing is to build on what we have done.

I think we definitely have a chance to lift the CAF Champions League in the future.

Personally, what would you like to achieve in this season’s CAF Champions League?

Personally, I would like to win the CAF Champions League.

Yanga is a team that always wins trophies. I think we have won everything domestically but what still remains is winning something in Africa and that is our biggest ambition now more than ever.