Allan Okello did not need time to announce himself. Within days of sealing his much-talked-about switch from Vipers SC, the Ugandan playmaker delivered a debut that felt less like an introduction and more like a declaration of intent.
Thrown straight into the deep end, Okello played his part as Young Africans SC tore Mashujaa FC apart in a ruthless 6–0 Tanzanian Premier League rout on Monday.
The margin of victory was emphatic, but beneath the avalanche of goals lay a subtler, equally compelling narrative: how seamlessly Yanga’s newest marquee signing slipped into the engine room of a well-oiled machine.
Young Africans SC 6 🆚 0 Mashujaa FC
Mtani karibu KMC Complex upate Burudani😅#TimuYaWananchi #DaimaMbeleNyumaMwiko pic.twitter.com/u4ewkk1OgY
— Young Africans SC (@YoungAfricansSC) January 19, 2026
Okello crowned his first appearance in green and yellow with an assist, providing the spark for Yanga’s sixth goal. His thunderous free-kick was only half-dealt with by Mashujaa goalkeeper Erick Johora, leaving fellow debutant Laurindo Dilson Depu to pounce. It was a telling moment, confidence, authority and execution wrapped into a single action.
Yanga had already seized control long before then. Camara Damaro broke the deadlock inside eight minutes, setting the tempo for what followed. Duke Abuya doubled the advantage on 28 minutes, Pacome Zouzoua added a third five minutes later, and after the break Prince Dube (79’) and Mudathir Abbas (81’) completed a demolition that left Mashujaa chasing shadows.
Yet even amid the flood of goals, Okello’s influence was unmistakable. Signed amid considerable fanfare and expectation, the former Vipers SC talisman looked entirely at home. Deployed high on the right and drifting into central pockets, he became a constant reference point in Yanga’s attacking patterns, demanding possession, linking phases of play and unlocking spaces with subtle touches and incisive distribution.
What stood out most was his authority. Despite having barely unpacked his bags, Okello was immediately handed set-piece responsibilities, delivering corners and free-kicks with assurance. That trust, extended so early, spoke volumes about the faith already placed in him by head coach Pedro Goncalves and his technical staff.
55’| #NBCPremierLeague
Young Africans SC 3 🆚 0 Mashujaa FC#TimuYaWananchi #DaimaMbeleNyumaMwiko pic.twitter.com/eryzB3ppW8
— Young Africans SC (@YoungAfricansSC) January 19, 2026
He was not just a creator, either. Okello tested Johora on multiple occasions, coming close to marking his debut with a goal, and completed the full 90 minutes, another strong endorsement of his readiness at a club where patience is rarely afforded.
The victory further underlined Young Africans’ dominance. Seven matches into the campaign, Yanga sit top with 19 points, holding a two-point cushion over JKT Tanzania, who have played three games more. Mashujaa, by contrast, remain fourth with 13 points from 10 matches, still reeling from a humbling afternoon.
For Okello, however, attention now shifts rapidly from domestic dominance to continental scrutiny. On Friday, Young Africans head to Cairo to face African heavyweights Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League. It promises to be a far sterner examination, but if his debut is any indication, it is precisely the kind of stage on which Okello thrives.
