AfricaPress-Tanzania: DAR ES SALAAM football giants Simba and Young Africans have both welcomed a decision by the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) to reschedule the date of the Dar es Salaam derby from October 18th to November 7th this year.
Christened Kariakoo derby, the to be the first derby of this season, however, will be staged at the same venue, Benjamin Mkapa stadium in Dar es Salaam, with Yanga hosting it.
The decision has been received well at Yanga camp, and the team’s official Antonio Nugaz said the switch will give them ample time to prepare for the derby against their traditional rivals.
“We have already moved to the camp with players who are not in the national team to prepare for the derby, but it is good news to us because it gives us more time to drill players for the big match,” Nugaz said.
On retrospect, Simba also supported the move and through the club’s information and communication officer, Haji Manara, the club said it is ready for everything, any day.
“We are ready to play against Yanga anytime [today or even next year], even if TPLB decides to move the game, we will finally meet and beat them severely.”
TPLB confirmed through a signed statement on the change of date, saying it has been necessitated by the fact the two giants have key players serving their respective countries during the international break, and will thus have problems in returning to Tanzania mostly due to Covid-19 complications.
“TPLB has done changes to match number 61 in the Mainland Premier League between Yanga and Simba moving it from October 18, 2020, to November 7, 2020, starting at 5 pm at Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,” read the statement obtained by Goal on Wednesday.
“The changes have been necessitated by the fact that there are strict travel rules in different countries after players travelled to honour international assignments might affect the squads of the two clubs because of late arrivals.
“Several countries are still adhering to the strict Covid-19 measures they put in place since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and as such we cannot risk playing the derby on October 18.”
Last season, the two giants met three times, with the first round ending in a 2-2 draw before Yanga turned on the screw to win the second round fixture 1-0, but they again faced off in the semi-finals of the FA Cup where Simba won 4-1.
Simba then went ahead to seal a season double – winning the Community Shield, the league, and the domestic cup – after beating Namungo FC 2-1 in the final played in Sumbawanga, Rukwa.
While Simba will have their coach Sven Vandenbroeck for the derby, Yanga will have a new man in charge after they fired Belgian Luc Eymael at the end of the last campaign and later Zlatko Krmpotic after 5 matches in charge of the club.
