Dar Es Salaam — Young Africans have now earmarked the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro as their home base for the Premier League matches as they continue with their efforts to acquire the use of National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The move came, after the government dispelled as 'hot air' Yanga's claims that they have been allowed to use National Stadium for league matches. Yanga claimed last week that they have been cleared by the government to stage their ongoing League matches at the 60,000-seater arena, following the closure of Uhuru Stadium.

The club said it had met government's conditions to use the facility in their league matches, including paying 3.4m/- before a match and later pay 1.9m/- for Stadium's cleaning cost. According to Yanga, they were also supposed to pay 10 per cent of the gate collection to the government.

The Jangwani Street team claimed that they were allotted to play five home matches at the stadium, following successful negotiation with the ministry of sports. But in a dramatic move, the Ministry for Information, Culture, and Sports who run the Stadium informed the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on Monday that there was no such agreement.

And, the TFF had given Yanga until this evening to submit the name of the stadium which will host their matches. Yanga Chairman Llyod Nchunga confirmed on Wednesday that they have decided to earmark the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro as their alternative base, but said at the moment they will continue to negotiate with the government to give a nod for the club to use the imposing facility.

Nchunga expressed his disappointment following the ministry's decision to overrule its earlier decision to allow the Jangwani Street club to use the venue, without giving reasons. "We don't know what went wrong. Every thing was agreed upon, we are surprised with this sudden change of mind," he said, adding that they will continue with the pursuit.

On Tuesday, TFF Spokesperson Florian Kaijage said the federation received government's letter, informing them that they have not given Yanga the rights to use the National Stadium. However, he said, after seeking government's confirmation, they learned that it had not passed the use of the venue and that Yanga's claim was nothing but a hoax.

The government closed down the Uhuru Stadium about two weeks ago to pave way for renovation that includes upgrading the spectators' stands. The renovation will last for three months. It meant that Dar es Salaam based teams - Yanga, Simba, Azam FC, JKT Ruvu and African Lyon that use the venue for the top flight league matches had to find alternative venues.

Yanga, Simba and Azam FC then asked the government if they could use the National Stadium, and the response was that only five matches could be played during the first round of the premier league.

The negotiations broke up with Simba and Azam opting for Mwanza's CCM Kirumba and Mkwakwani in Tanga as their home grounds respectively. The duo's move prompted Yanga to lobby for the National Stadium hoping that they could seize the opportunity of Simba and Azam's decision to withdraw.

Meanwhile, Yanga on Wednesday tamed visiting AFC Leopards of Kenya 1-0 in an international friendly match at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha yesterday.

Ghana import Keneth Assamoah scored the lone goal two minutes before the final whistle. Yanga will face AFC Arusha in the top flight league match at the same venue on Saturday, and already the Arusha based side has promised to give Yanga a tough opposition.