Africa-Press – Tanzania. The Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) said the gesture by international sports media requesting for accreditation to cover the Dar es Salaam derby between Simba and Young Africans this Saturday is exceptional.
The two giants meet in the eighth round of the NBC Premier League at the 60,000 capacity Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam battling for the maximum points.
It will be a clash between table toppers Yanga who are parading 19 points against the closest challengers Simba with 17 points as each of them believe that they have mobilized enough resources for the tough assignment.
However, speaking on Wednesday in the city, TPLB Spokesperson, Karim Boimanda said his office has been receiving accreditation requests from international sports reporters who are ready to come and cover the match.
“So far, we have received requests from sports journalists in Germany, South Africa and Kenya who are interested in coming here for the big match and this is a blessing to us. “We have already granted them the accreditation and hopefully they will be in attendance on Saturday,” Boimanda said.
He added that this gesture symbolizes that the derby is followed across the world since the international reporters have their audience waiting to be fed on what will transpire on the match day.
In terms of preparations, Boimanda revealed that so far,everything is going as planned with meetings involving various stakeholders frequently being conducted ahead of the match.
He also explained that for the first time in the derby’s history, they have extended ticket selling centers in many regions in order to let people purchase them timely before traveling to Dar es Salaam.
“What we insist to people is that they should buy tickets early as one way to combat congestion which comes a few days before the game since many people have a tendency of buying tickets late,” he said.
Moreover, Boimanda said for the first time, food vendors will be allowed to conduct their businesses inside the stadium as one way to satisfy demands of fans who will enter the venue early.
“We expect people to go inside very early as such; ensuring that foodstuffs are readily available will help a lot to make them feel at ease that is why we have permitted food vendors to operate inside,” he said.
Meanwhile, both Simba and Yanga have intensified drills ahead of the record breaking encounter which attracts attention of many people within and outside the country.
Both sides enjoy unbeaten status in the ongoing league hence it remains a puzzle as to which team will be the first to taste the bitter part of competition.
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