Team departs for Songea

African Lyon today departed for Songea, a journey expected to 12 hours before they reach Ruvuma region, by road.

The team departed with 20 players and 8 officials which included the club's Secretary General who will head the delegation.

The players who made the trip are goal Keepers Noel Lucas, john Mbugwa and Hamadi Waziri who will be returning to Songea for the first time after leaving the MajiMaji for African Lyon, however he has yet to make a senior appearance in the Premier League for African Lyon

Others are defenders, Bakari Omari, Zubeir Ubwa, Abu Ubwa, Aziz Sibo, Yahya Issa, Stphano Nkomola, Godfrey Komba and Said Mwarami.

Midfielders Victor Isaac, Rashid Gumbo, Mohammed Samatta, Idrissa Rashid Sultan Kitu.

Strikers Mbwana Samatta, Yusuf Soka, Robert Sentongo, Karume Songoro.

African Lyon will face former Champions Maji Maji on the 24 th November, 2009 at the Maji Maji Stadium in Songea, with both teams looking for the vital three points at stake.

The officials on the trip are Jeshi Zakaria (club Secretary), Ally Kulita (Finance),and Fadili Msemi (Team Manager – Admin) and the technical bench will comprise of Jumanne Chale (Chief Coach), Charles Otieno (Assistant Coach), Ernest Brown (Statistician), Mohammed Kazenga (Kit Manager) and Liso Kisongo (Doctor)

Players left out are Abdallah Mpandachi and Mohammed Baggio (Malaria), Hamis Shengo (eye infection), Abdul Masenga (Knee), Hamis Thabit, Benedicto Jackob, Rajabu Isihaka, and Johannes Kajuna (School), Castory Mumbara (Personal Issues).

In a brief statement before departure Jumanne Chale said that besides this match, he was already looking at how to organise the team to face Azam F.C. on Wednesday, 28 th November.

Other games in round 9 that will be played between 21 st and 25 th November are on Wednesday Mtibwa sugar will host Toto Africans at the Manungu Stadium, while Kagera after beating African Lyon 2-1 will be visiting Mbeya for a date with Prisons. Manema Rangers will face off with a wounded JKT Ruvu at the Uhuru Stadium.

On the 24 th Simba will face Azam F.C. and the clash will be followed by defending champions who are under a new coach Papic “Clinton” will be hosting Moro United.

Maji Maji after loosing two opening games at home against Simba and JKT Ruvu, recollected themselves and posed wins over Young Africans and Mtibwa Sugar at home. At home Maji Maji have managed to collect 7 points from a possible 15, while away they have collected 2 points from a possible 9. Their home form is certainly a talking point, and African Lyon will have to be extremely precise to cut open a resilient Maji Maji.