Simba Sports Club and Dar Young Africans are gearing up for the first installment of highly anticipated Kariakoo Derby which is set to take centre stage at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday afternoon.
The Msimbazi Reds are on the top of the Tanzania Premier League table and have been excellent this season. They walloped Dodoma Jiji 3-0 in their previous game and they will want a similar result this weekend.
Yanga, on the other hand, are on the second place on the league table at the moment and have also excelled this year. The Citizens beat Ruvu Shooting 2-1 a fortnight ago and will be going for maximum points in this fixture.
In the last meeting between the two teams, The Citizens came out triumphant by clinching the 2022 Community Shiled following their 1-0 win. The lone strike was netted by Congolese striker Fiston Mayele in the first half.
Speaking on Friday, Yanga’s assistant coach ,Cedric Kaze, said he has prepared his players purposely to win the encounter despite the tough challenges they are going to face.
“The upcoming fixture is important to the players as a win will restore pride to us following our African Champions League exit,” Kaze told the club media.
“Simba is a big team and going to this game we give them the respect they deserve, but we are much prepared to face them.”
Of the past 107 games that have been played out between the two teams, Yanga are comfortably the most successful side, although 40 the games have ended with the points shared.
The Citizens have won 38 of the 107 encounters, with Msimbazi Reds taking maximum points on only 29 occasions.
Ramadhan Kayoko will be in-charge of the derby and he will be assisted by Mohamed Mkono, and Janeth Balama while Elly Saria will serve as the fourth official.
The match commissioner will be Kamwanga Tambwe while Kaim Boimanda will serve as the media officer in a match set to be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium this Sunday.
