Yanga SC ready for Kariakoo derby, Simba SC skip media briefing

Photo Credit - Young Africans Sports Club.

Uncertainty surrounds the Mainland Premier League Kariakoo derby after Simba SC skipped a media briefing session ahead of the eagerly-awaited fixture at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday.

While Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Miloud Hamdi and his assistant captain Dickson Job attended the briefing and revealed their readiness to take on their bitter rivals in the title-deciding clash, Simba skipped the event altogether.

Simba’s decision not to attend left everyone startled, including the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) officials, who were present during the press briefing.

Speaking ahead of the league derby, Hamdi told Pan-Africa Football: “The Kariakoo derby is a big game between two big teams in Tanzania, we have a lot of respect for Simba, of course, but we are Young Africans, and we will do everything to be champions.

“That is the big problem, Simba and Yanga want to be champions, but you all know that only one will be crowned, only one will take the cup, and I really hope it is Yanga. I hope we win it.

“While we can win the trophy with a draw, Simba have to win, they have to win the game to beat us to the title. There is no shortcut. Yanga have our destiny in our hands, a draw we win, a win we win, so everything is in our hands, we will not stay back and wait, we will attack.

“If we win this title, I will be very happy. I have a feeling we will win it. We will do everything to win the title, because we will be beautiful champions. Simba have very good players, they can score anytime, but we also have good players in defence.

“I don’t want to name all the players that we have, but we need a win. It will be 11 against 11. We will play without breaking, and must be very strong in defence.”

This decisive derby is set to kick off at 2:00 PM GMT. For those in Tanzania, which observes East Africa Time (EAT), the match will begin at 5:00 PM EAT.