It’s another installment of the biggest match in Tanzania soccer calendar, with Yanga visiting Simba for yet another testing encounter, this time in the form of the Vodacom Premier League which will be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.
Last time when the two sides met; the thrill a-minute affair saw both team going home with a point each after a one-all draw.
This time there’s three points on the line, and although the league is more of a marathon and not a sprint; the visitors will come into this encounter well aware of the task of not allowing the current log leaders to stretch their lead beyond where it currently sits.
Yanga are sitting second place with 57 points collected after 27 games while Simba have 61 points gained from 25 games.
Simba come to the match as the hot favorites basing on the current form .The Didier Gomes’ charges have not lost ten of their last league games netting 17 goals in the process but what has been central to their success has been their miserly defence which has seen them keep a clean sheet in all five league encounters.
However, despite this, form counts for nothing when it comes to the Kariakoo Derby as the Yanga showed in early in season as Simba scored their goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Meanwhile, Yanga go into this game having won three of their last ten games and on the back of 1-0 loss over third place Azam FC.
The Jangani giants have struggled to find their title-winning form so far this season, however, they are still within touching distance of their rivals, sitting four points and one place behind Simba.
Yanga will be without the service of winger Carlos Carlinhos and defender Yassin Mustapha who have been pulled out of the squad owing to injuries.
However, the Nasreddine Nabi’s charges are expected to welcome back Tuisila Kisinda who missed the previous two games due to an arm injury.
In the Simba’s camp there are no injuries worries ahead of the biggest clash and they have assured their fans that they are rearing to go against their rivals Yanga.
Of the past 104 games that have been played out between the two teams, Yanga are comfortably the most successful side, although 39 the games have ended with the points shared.
The Jangwani giants have won 36 of the 104 encounters, with Msimbazi Reds taking maximum points on only 27 occasions, although last season finished with each team getting one win over each other in the season.
