The country’s oldest and most fancied clubs clash at the National Stadium on Saturday from 4:00pm with the outcome expected to decide the fate of Premier League title race.
Ahead of derby fixture, leaders normally leave no stone unturned to come out on top and there is no different this time around as the two traditional archrivals fine-tune for crunch game.
Both camps are craving for maximum points so as to steal a march in the title race as well as secure the bragging rights and to ensure that, they have opted for more conducive environments to plot the epic battle. Surely, neither Simba nor Yanga will be keen to drop points at this stage of the season.
Already, a battle of words has erupted between the two clubs Simba and Young Africans who will clash on Saturday in an eagerly awaited league match which is set to give the roadmap of the title winner this season.
Yanga’s reinstated Executive Committee member Salum Mkemi called for a press briefing at the club house in Dar es Salaam yesterday, bragging that the leadership was doing everything right to ensure their team win the battle and put themselves on course to retain the league title.
“Victory is a must and we will teach Simba a lesson they will never forget ... we have the best squad compared to our rivals,” he bragged. Mkemi’s showing off did not end there, as he said they are well prepared both on and off the pitch, ensuring their supporters that they cannot lose the match. “I call upon all our supporters to walk majestically and flock the stadium as victory is guaranteed.
The leadership can assure them all that our players are in good spirit and ready to dismantle Simba,” said Mkemi, whose membership together with two others were revoked last year by the club Chairman Yusuf Manji, before the decision was reversed two weeks ago.
The motor-mouthed Mkemi also confirmed that Zimbabwean ace striker Donald Ngoma will not be available on Saturday’s clash because he is still nursing a knee injury.
“A doctor said he is expected to be back in action next week ready for the crucial CAF Champions League first round tie against Zambian side Zanaco,” he said.
Defending champion, Yanga are currently settled in the second position in the table, two points behind their archrivals Simba, who are in the driver’s seat on 51 points. Simba have played 22 outings, while Yanga have a match in hand.
George Lwandamina’s reigning champions have resorted to abandon their usual camp in Pemba Island; instead, the Jangwani Street lads have set their base at Kimbiji in Kigamboni, plotting Simba’s downfall.
Simba, who have in recent matches against Yanga been camping at Kigurunyembe in Morogoro have also shifted base, returning to their former camp in Zanzibar to sharpen up their claws for the top of the table clash battle.
Speaking ahead of the match the Msimbazi street based club, Assistant Coach Jackson Mayanja, confirmed their Zimbabwean central defender Method Mwanjali is back in the squad after shaking off an injury. “He is available for selection and this gives us confidence that we will remain strong in defence,” he said.
Mayanja said his team is well prepared for the match against the bitter rivals Yanga to ensure they emerge with victory so as to guarantee their top position in the league table. The Ugandan tactician urged Simba supporters to take it easy as they have nothing to worry about. He assured them that their team is well prepared and they should expect victory and nothing else.
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