Dar es Salaam. With less than 24 hours to the eagerly awaited Kariakoo Derby, only Young Africans SC (Yanga) honoured the official pre-match media briefing held today at the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) headquarters, while rivals Simba SC failed to appear without providing an explanation.
The two giants of Tanzanian football are set to clash tomorrow at 5:00 PM at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in a match that could have a major impact on the Premier League title race.
Yanga’s technical bench, led by head coach Miloud Hamdi, met with journalists as scheduled, expressing readiness for the high-stakes encounter.
However, the absence of Simba raised eyebrows, prompting the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) to respond.
“We had expected both teams to address the media today. After Yanga finished, Simba were supposed to follow. We made several efforts to contact their representatives to understand their challenges, but we were unable to reach them,” said TPLB Media Officer, Mr Karim Boimanda.
He added that should Simba issue a statement explaining their absence, it will be shared via the League Board’s official platforms.
Mr Boimanda also addressed concerns about officiating, confirming that referees from Egypt will oversee the derby. “These are top-level officials with international recognition. We have full confidence in their abilities,” he noted.
Speaking to the media, Yanga’s coach Hamdi said his squad is well-prepared for the match and focused on securing a win to strengthen their title defence.
“It will be a tough match because Simba have a good squad. But we have prepared well. Our target is to get three points. The players know what this match means and are ready to fight for victory,” he said.
He noted that team morale is high and urged Yanga supporters to fill the stadium in support of their club.
“Our fans have always been our strength. We’re asking them to show up in large numbers tomorrow and push the players to give their best,” said the coach.
Defender Dickson Job, speaking on behalf of the players, also expressed confidence ahead of the match, describing it as a historic fixture with significant pressure but one that Yanga is fully ready for.
“We know it will be a tough game, but the team is in high spirits. We’ve followed the coach’s guidance during training and are determined to get a positive result,” he said.
Job added that the players were not under pressure, given the intense preparations and the support from the technical bench.
The Kariakoo Derby, initially scheduled for March 8 this year, was postponed due to undisclosed reasons.
Its rescheduling has revived excitement among fans, with tomorrow’s showdown expected to draw tens of thousands to the stadium and millions of viewers across the country and beyond.
