Young Africans boss Mngqithi faces resistance in bid to raid South African clubs for stars

New Young Africans SC head coach Manqoba Mngqithi is pushing to lure some of South Africa’s leading performers to Tanzania – but clubs in the Betway Premiership are digging in to keep their standout players.

The Tanzanian champions are understood to have identified TS Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Eliezer Tape as a prime transfer target, yet negotiations are expected to be complicated, with his current side reluctant to sanction a move.

Tape, who has emerged as one of the league’s most consistent goalkeepers, recently enhanced his reputation by being named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2026 Mpumalanga Premier’s Cup after a series of strong pre-season displays for TS Galaxy, known as the Rockets.

However, sources close to the talks say Galaxy are determined not to lose the Ivorian, as the club looks to hold on to the core of its squad ahead of the new campaign.

TS Galaxy stand firm on Tape and key talents

According to insiders, TS Galaxy have made clear they are not keen to entertain offers for Tape, who has become a central figure for the club.

The stance follows a broader strategy from chairman Tim Sukazi, who is believed to be prioritising continuity after an encouraging season. Sukazi has already signalled that highly-rated midfielder Seluleko Mahlambi will not be sold, with the expectation that the youngster will build on an impressive debut Betway Premiership campaign.

“It won’t be easy for Yanga to sign players from South Africa because the clubs involved want to keep their best players. But coach Manqoba is still looking at some of the top talent in the league and would like to work with players he believes can strengthen his team,” a source close to the situation told the Siya crew.

The resistance underlines the challenge facing Young Africans – one of East Africa’s biggest clubs – as they attempt to reinforce their squad with talent from the South African top flight.

Familiar faces join Mngqithi’s backroom staff

While player recruitment has proved tricky, Mngqithi has moved quickly to assemble a backroom staff he knows well.

The former Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns coach has brought in Kagisho Dikgacoi and Simo Dladla as assistant coaches, while former Nigeria international Greg Etafia has joined as goalkeeping coach after departing TS Galaxy.

Performance analyst Yardaan Valodia has also become part of the Young Africans technical team, giving Mngqithi a familiar and trusted support structure as he begins his tenure in Dar es Salaam.

The appointments underline Yanga’s ambition to build a technically sophisticated set-up capable of competing strongly in domestic competition and on the continental stage.

South African market remains priority for Yanga

Mngqithi has been regularly linked with a number of Betway Premiership players in recent weeks, as Young Africans look to blend local talent with imported experience.

Among those reportedly on his radar are Richards Bay defender Thulani Gumede and Chippa United midfielder Justice Figueiredo. At this stage, though, it is unclear how many of those pursuits, if any, will translate into completed deals.

With the transfer window still open, sources suggest the Young Africans boss is unlikely to give up on recruiting from South Africa, despite the reluctance of clubs to part with core players.

Any successful move for Tape or other targets would mark a significant statement of intent from the Tanzanian champions, but for now Mngqithi appears set for a drawn-out battle to persuade South African sides to release their stars.