Tanzania’s biggest football competitors, Simba and Young Africans, close horns this Saturday (November 7) at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam, as the Tanzanian Premier League enters its 10th matchday.
This is the fourth meeting between both parties this calendar year, with each team winning once and one match ending in a 2-2 draw.
Yanga, as the young Africans are known, got off to a perfect start in the Tanzanian league, having won seven times and drawn twice in their nine matches, while their opponents Simba lost twice in the same number of matches to their chance of defending the title.
The “Kariakoo Derby” is scheduled from October 18 to November 7 to give both teams enough time to prepare.
Host Yanga is looking for a chance to avenge their 4-1 loss when both sides last met in the FA Cup semi-final last July.
Yanga Burundian coach Cedric Kaze believes his team is good at overcoming champions Simba, but admits the match will be difficult for both teams.
“We had some tough results but we were able to come out with seven points out of nine. I believe we are in good shape for the derby,” Kaze said following Yanga after three wins and one led in his four games. at the helm of affairs since his appointment last month.
“It will not be an easy match. We have a few more days to prepare and see how we will approach the match. Our goal is to win all matches, and this derby is very important,” he said. he added.
Meanwhile, Deus Kaseke, captain of Yanga, believes that his team is well prepared to take on Simba this Saturday.
“The derby is always difficult. It’s very different from all the matches we’ve played so far. I believe we have prepared well for that, and that the best team will win,” he said.
On the other hand, and despite losing two of their last four matches, Simba still believes they are in good shape and well organized to face their archival Yanga on Saturday.
Simba captain Shomary Kapombe noted that every player likes to play in the derby, and that his team is ready for it, with their main goal being the three points to close the gap with the teams at the top of the standings to reduce.
“This is the derby, and every player wants to play. We are ready for that. We understand that Yanga are a good team, but we will take this game very seriously to win,” said Kapombe.