After a standout season that saw him lead Young Africans (Yanga) to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, Stephane Aziz Ki is determined to guide the Tanzanian giants to even greater heights this campaign.
The 28-year-old Burkinabe international, who has become a talisman for Yanga, is committed to helping the club achieve continental success, with ambitions to advance beyond last season’s impressive run.
Ki’s performances last season attracted attention from clubs across Africa, but his focus remains firmly on Yanga. In an exclusive interview, Ki shared his thoughts on the club’s ambitions, the impact of head coach Miguel Gamondi, and the driving force behind Yanga’s recent successes.
Yanga’s campaign kicked off with a strong start, and Ki is clear about the team’s objectives: to compete at the highest level from the first minute to the last.
“Yanga has to show that we want to be at the top. We have to take every game like a final,” said Ki. “I’m happy about the first game, and I’m very proud of the team, but it’s not finished.”
For Ki, the motivation to excel comes from a desire to continuously improve. “The goal is to be better than the day before,” he explained.
“The team wants to do better than the last game. It’s important to prove ourselves because the coach has done his best to prepare us in training. We have to play well to make our fans happy.”
As one of Yanga’s key players, Ki understands the weight of expectations on his shoulders. However, he embraces his role with humility, emphasizing the importance of teamwork. “I have to be an example and help everyone because football is about 11 vs 11 on the pitch,” Ki noted.
“You are only better when you have your teammates around you. It’s important to give confidence to everyone, even those who aren’t always in the starting lineup. Everyone is important to me, and that’s why I always have to be committed on the pitch.”
Ki credited much of Yanga’s recent success to head coach Miguel Gamondi, whose arrival has brought a positive shift in the team’s mentality. “Gamondi changed everything in the team, especially the players’ mentality,” Ki said.
“You can see that the team wants to score more goals in every game. Sometimes when you are winning, you can get complacent, but he pushes us to be better and take every game seriously. He has helped me individually and the team as a whole to improve every day.”
With a strong start to the CAF Champions League, Ki is clear about Yanga’s goals for the season. “The objective is clear: to go far, and by that, I mean at least reaching the semi-finals,” he asserted.
“Everyone is working towards this goal. We have to be ready to play every game like a final if we want to be regarded as the best in Africa.”
Ki highlighted the camaraderie within the squad as a key factor behind Yanga’s recent performances. “I’d say the friendship in the group is the secret. Everyone is like family here, from the management to the players,” Ki explained.
“Last season, the team did well because everyone worked towards the same objective. That was the key.”
Despite his rising profile, Ki remains focused on the team’s collective success rather than individual accolades. “I played well last season because of the help of the team,” he said.
“They gave me everything I needed, which is why I always think about the team first. I can’t win alone. I won’t say that I’m the best; the team is the best. I just want to be as good as they are.”
Ki also acknowledged the influence of his performances with Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on his growth as a player. “It’s always good to play in competitions like AFCON against top teams and players from Europe and Africa,” Ki noted.
“It boosts your confidence, and you learn from every game, whether you win or lose. I saw this in AFCON, and it helped me to contribute more to my team.”
Ki concluded with a heartfelt message to the Yanga supporters, urging them to continue believing in the team. “I always say they have to believe in the team, the staff, and the players,” he said.
“Everyone here gives everything to make the supporters happy. Whatever we do is not just for us, but for the Wananchi family. We all share the same dream to go far in the league and in the Champions League. We need to move forward with the same power and confidence.”
As Yanga continues its journey in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, Stephane Aziz Ki’s leadership and commitment will undoubtedly be crucial in guiding the Tanzanian giants toward their ambitious goals.
