Azam Victory Over Yanga Vindicated Stewart Hall's Faith in Youngsters

Stewart Hall (R) with Club Chairman, Said Bakhressa

On Sunday, Stewart Hall cruelly put to an end Yanga's four consecutive victories against his side  with a late killer blow delivered by second half  substitute, league debutant and U-20 youngster Joseph Kimwaga. In a match neither side wanted a draw nor could they afford a loss, it was Azam's Stewart Hall bold gamble of fielding three youngsters that ultimately paid off.

It was not an easy victory for Azam despite scoring an early goal through their returning from injury skipper, John Bocco in the first minute. In his post match interview, Hall acknowledged the difficulties, " Two different games, two different results...today the best team lost, its football". Yanga dominated possession but Azam got the result, a reversal of fortune to their last encounter in the Community Shield match.

The match was a pressure-cooker for both sides having each picked maximum points on one occasion only in four outings but Stewart Hall deemed it appropriate to trust three youngsters for the epic battle. Having lost four consecutive matches against the Jangwani side, it took something special in him to throw the three kids in the must-win tie. The pressure on him was immense, the management wanted results, they have invested a lot in the club, maximum points was the only thing that mattered on Sunday. His job insurance depended on the outcome of Sunday's results.

Prior to the match, the club posted a press release in the the club's official website blaming the players for the poor results, nothing was mentioned about the coach. But one can only imagine what was going behind the scene, it is hard not think that heads were about to roll. The heat was too much, someone was going to be fried and the coach could have been the likeliest candidate. In his post-match interview, the British coach  spoke like someone who was finally exhaling, he spoke of the midweek poor results. " We played very badly against Ashanti United, it was our worst performance in my two-year stay with the club" .

Hall has come to be known as a tough coach who is never afraid to make tough decisions that would raise eyebrows. Last season he kept benching Mrisho Ngassa amid public outcry and media onslaught. Despite the crucification he  kept insisting Ngassa was complacent and would only field him if he works hard. On Sunday, he did the same, this time it was the untouchable duo of Ivorian hitman, Kipre Tchetche and Salum Abubakar 'Sure Boy'. He benched the duo together with three other regular starters to make five changes to the squad that could only manage a draw with the league whipping boys, Ashanti United.

Even Mwadini Ally was not spared, Aishi Manula the promising young goalkeeper was trusted ahead of the veteran custodian for the crucial tie. These were bold changes, a statement of intent to the complacent players. Everything could have gone wrong with this risky approach and he would surely have paid with his head. Had they lost on Sunday it is safe to assume the axe would have been wielded against him.

His trust on the three youngsters, Aishi Manula, Farid Musa and Joseph Kimwaga paid off. Manula superb goalkeeping kept the score in favour of Azam. He pulled off exceptional saves time and time again to deny Yanga victory in what could have been a disastrous result for the Chamazi side. The young goalkeeper was on top of his game, he paid in full the debt of trust and faith extended to him by his coach. He vindicated his coach. To cap it all his second half substitute, Joseph Kimwaga delivered the sucker punch to grab victory with arguably the last kick of the game. This was full vindication
(Read related article Kamari ya Azam na ndoto za Ubingwa )

 Cheap fabricated stories are emerging that he never trusts academy players, he has no faith in them and was only forced to play them by the management. We all remember Hall was sacked last year for sticking to his own decision.  Hall is his own man to the last bone. No one is going to force him to grant playing time to a payer if he feels is not ready. He demonstrated that with Ngassa last year by not bowing down to public and media pressure.

The same management that sacked him for not heeding to their advice and later on pleaded with him to re-join the club cannot make the same mistake. What makes that argument more silly is the fact that the same coach has shown trust in another youngster, Aishi Manula.  Was he also forced to play Aishi Manula? He offloaded Deogratius Munishi 'Dida' to give Manula a chance to play, something that he has done even on big matches.

The same coach who is accused of lacking faith in academy players has twice granted Manula, an academy player, a starting place in matches against Yanga. During the pre-season period while on a 10-day tour of South Africa,he was quoted stating that he will drop Mwadini Ally for the youngster, a promise he has kept so far. As if that is not enough, Hall could have gone on a signing spree given Azam fat cheque book but chose to promote the same youth players he is accused of lacking faith in. He could have sign any player he wanted from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda or Zambia but rather chose to promote three academy players.

He gambled with the youth and now when he is about to be vindicated people who have been a part of our football problems for so long want to discredit him.It sounds so silly and hollow to accuse him of lacking faith and a distrust in academy players.Who is going to buy that silly argument? Please if one wants us to swallow lies, show us some respect by giving us palatable lies.