SINGIDA Black Stars head coach Miguel Gamondi has expressed a sense of relief and satisfaction after his side managed a goalless draw against Azam FC in Wednesday's Mainland Premier League action at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.

The Argentine tactician (pictured) was candid about his team's performance, especially highlighting a poor first half, which he attributes to mental errors and fatigue following a recent busy schedule. Singida Black Stars recently played two consecutive CAF Confederation Group Stage matches. The run began with a long-haul trip to Algeria, resulting in a 2-0 defeat against CR Belouizdad. Last weekend, they traveled to Zanzibar to host South Africa's Stellenbosch.

Gamondi minced no words when assessing the opening 45 minutes of the intense league fixture, suggesting his team was fortunate not to be behind. “In the first half we made two big mistakes. We should have conceded one or two goals from the mistakes. It was inadmissible, I don't know what. We didn't play well, we didn't create many opportunities and I wasn't happy in the first half.”

The coach suggested the lacklustre display was partly due to the physical toll of recent matches, referencing the short turnaround time. "It was difficult for us after two days of this recovery," he noted. Singida Black Stars showed improvement after the break, making tactical adjustments that led to more attacking threat. 

At the sixty-minute mark, a triple substitution was made by Gamondi, seeing Emmanuel Kayeke, Iddriss Diomande, and Horso Muaku enter the game in place of Lamine Jarjou, Elvis Rupia, and Clatous Chama.

 "In the second half we changed, we created two or three chances. We had some dangerous situations, but not like in the first half. It was well equilibrated in the second half," Gamondi stated, acknowledging the improved balance in the game.

 Despite the poor first-half showing, Gamondi concluded that securing a point away from home against a tough opponent like Azam FC was a result to be appreciated, especially given the circumstances.

 “We must be happy with this point. One point away and the way we played in the first half plus the tiredness of the players as well is not something to celebrate, but we must be satisfied,” he concluded. The draw means both sides take a share of the spoils in a tightly contested Premier League season as they look ahead to their next fixtures.