Saturday 4 January will see Simba Sports Club and Young Africans which are the oldest and most successful clubs in the history of Tanzanian football battle it out in the latest edition of Dar es Salaam Derby.
Matches between the two perennial adversaries are usually feisty affairs that ride on tradition and history and fans do not just attend to watch the extravaganza but also the electric atmosphere that comes with it.
Various streets in Dar es Salaam are expected to be lined up in Red and green in readiness for the derby that kicks off at 5 pm at National Stadium.
The rivalry between the two sides has been there for the past 80 years when the two sides met in a league match and has ever since remained the biggest match in Tanzanian soccer calendar.
But there is no love lost when between the two combatants whenever they cross swords, although Yanga have had the most laughs in that out of their last 105 meetings. Yanga have vanquished Simba 36 times and only lost five times with 30 matches ending in a draw.
Currently, Simba are top of the 20-team league table with 34 points out of 13 matches while Yanga sit 5th on the table with 24 points.
However, Yanga have been in an alluring form lately and their 1-0 win over Biashara United coupled with their gallant fight in a barren draw with Mbeya City in their latest fixture is what makes many to think that they could be a hard nut to crack for Simba.
Yanga has been boosted by the clearance of striker Ditram Nchimbi, who was doubtful for the match due to some transfer issues which were yet to be resolved by Polisi Tanzania, where he was loaned from Azam FC.
Also expected to shine is Rwandese import Haruna Niyonzima who jetted into the country yesterday to re-join the club after parting ways with AS Kigali.
The match will bring together Charles Boniface Mkwasa against Belgian Sven Ludwig Vandenbroeck in a clash of wits, and it will be the first time that both tacticians are getting a taste of the Tanzania derby excitement.
Speaking ahead of the mouth-watering fixture, Mkwasa vowed his team will go out and finish the job as Simba are a normal side that can easily be defeated.
“Let me assure Yanga fans wherever they are not to be afraid about Simba because they are just a normal team like any other club in the league and they can easily be defeated,” Mkwasa is quoted by Daily News.
Simba on their part will look to stretch their fine run with a significant victory over Young Africans. The Msimbazi Reds have gone 10 games without a defeat and come into this clash on the back of a 2-0 win over Ndanda FC in their last Premiership match last year.
In terms of injury doubts, Miraj Athumani and Rashid Juma have been ruled out of the clash. Meanwhile, defender Erasto Nyoni, who was injured prior to CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup break, is due to undergo a late fitness test after again picking up a knock during training.
Against Ndanda, Simba red-hot striker Deo Kanda was phenomenal and the striker alongside Meddie Kagere, Francis Kahata and John Bocco are some of the players Yanga defence should be well advised to mark out of the game lest they cause havoc.
Ahead of the mouth-watering fixture, Simba coach Sven Vanderbroek said: “You cannot underestimate Yanga due to their match results in the league as this is a very different game that pits traditional rivals. So have to take percussions all the time.”
A win for either team will give a clear indication of what to expect at the end of 2019/2020 season in May.
