Young Africans will win league - Van der Pluijm

Former Heart of Lions coach Hans van Der Pluijm is confident Young Africans SC will win the Tanzania Premier League.

“We started the Premier League in September, we played nine matches, won seven and played two draws,” the coach told starrfmonline.com.

“We have a short break now because of qualification matches from the national team and we will start the second round of the league 12th December. In football everything is possible and nothing is impossible, but I am confident we can win the league but Azam SC and Simba SC are also contenders,” Van Der Pluijm added.

The Dutch, who has been in Ghana since 1998, said of the Tanzania League: “Here you are respected with the job you are doing. I’m working as a coach with happiness, if I compare that with Ghana. We have fantastic fans who respect the coaches and players. In Ghana there is no respect for coaches and players.”

Azam FC are currently leading the Tanzania Premier League with 25 points and Young Africans SC lie second with 23 points.

Pluijm guided Berekum Chelsea to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League for the first time in the 2012-13 league season.

Young Africans SC are the defending champions of the Tanzania domestic top-flight and will be hoping to defend the title this season.