KIGALI, Rwanda — Yei Joint Stars head coach Sony Harriet Alfred has praised her side’s 3-0 victory over Ethiopia’s Denden FC in their opening match of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers, saying securing the three points was the team’s main objective.
Yei Joint Stars got their campaign off to a perfect start in Kigali, with Poni Esther opening the scoring early before the South Sudanese side added two more goals to seal a convincing victory.
Speaking after the match, Harriet said the result was particularly important because it was the team’s first game of the tournament.
“To me, as the head coach of Yei Joint Stars, the result is good because it’s the starting of the game. When we were coming for the game, what came to our mind was that the first thing we needed was the result and the three points. Actually, we have got it, and we are happy about that. We are going to prepare for the next game,” Harriet said.
The Yei Joint Stars coach also explained her decision-making when making substitutions during the match, stressing the importance of having players on the bench who can change the game when introduced.
“As a coach, there is a tactical way of handling a team, like in a system of play. You don’t put everyone who is good to start the game. You need to have very good game-changers outside. When you study the game and take them in, you will find that they can change the game for you and give you the results you want,” she said.
Harriet highlighted the introduction of Ambayo, wearing jersey number 24, as one of the tactical changes that helped Yei Joint Stars gain more control of the match.
“That’s why you saw when I took Ambayo, jersey number 24, the defensive midfielder, she started organizing the game. And actually, my number 10, the striker, with her first touch she scored because she had already studied the game and studied the opponent from outside,” Harriet explained.
The victory gives Yei Joint Stars an important three points at the start of their CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers campaign.
The South Sudanese side will now shift their focus to their next Group A fixture as they look to maintain their winning momentum and push for a place in the next stage of the regional qualifiers.
