Dar es Salaam. Football fans, especially those of Simba and Yanga, are eagerly counting down the days before witnessing the two teams face off in the highly anticipated return leg of the Kariakoo Derby.
The traditional rivals are set to clash this weekend at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam in the NBC Premier League match, following their first encounter on October 19 of last year, where Yanga won 1-0.
In that previous match, Simba shot themselves in the foot when left-back Kelvin Kijili scored an own goal while trying to clear a ball from his own goal line.
This Saturday’s match will mark the 114th time these two teams meet in the league since 1965, and it will be the third time they’ve met on March 8.
It is the 11th meeting in March overall, including 10 in the Premier League and one in the now-defunct Tusker Cup.
This match on March 8 will be the third encounter for these two teams on this specific date.
They’ve met twice before: once in 2015 and again in 2020.
Historical records show that in previous March 8 encounters, neither team has dominated, as both sides have each won one and lost one.
Simba was the first to win on March 8 when they faced off in 2015, with Ugandan striker Emmanuel Okwi scoring a long-range goal from 22 meters that beat goalkeeper Ally Mustafa ‘Barthez’.
Okwi’s shot came in the 52nd minute after receiving a beautiful pass from Said Ndemla. The match ended 1-0 in Simba’s favor.
The teams waited five years before meeting again on March 8, 2020, and this time, Yanga responded with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a stunning free-kick by Bernard Morrison ‘BM33’ just seconds before halftime.
Morrison’s goal came after Jonas Mkude fouled him, resulting in a free-kick that beat Simba’s keeper, Aishi Manula.
This weekend’s match will determine who will claim the bragging rights for March 8, as the two teams are still in the race for the league title.
Yanga currently sit at the top of the standings with 58 points, while Simba follows closely with 54 points.
Looking at the general March records, Yanga lead Simba with four wins out of 10 Premier League encounters since 1968.
Simba, on the other hand, have won only once in these March meetings but also has a victory in a Tusker Cup final.
The two teams have also drawn five times, with Yanga scoring more goals overall in these encounters nine goals compared to Simba’s five.
Their first-ever meeting in March was on March 30, 1968, when Yanga won 1-0 through a goal from Kitwana Manara ‘Popat’.
The teams then met again on March 3, 1969, for their second encounter in March, but the match ended in controversy when Simba protested and the game was awarded to Yanga by default, giving them two points and two goals.
In 1984, the teams met for the third time in March, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
This fixture was notable for being the first time a goalkeeper, Idd Pazi ‘Father’, scored a penalty in the Derby.
March 1993 saw Yanga win 2-1, and they had draws in 1995 and 2006.
Their 2011 encounter is famous for being the first match in the Kariakoo Derby to feature the VAR (Video Assistant Referee), where a controversial goal by Simba’s Mussa Hassan Mgosi was initially ruled out before being allowed following a review.
Looking at the history of March encounters, Yanga have won 10 of the 11 matches in this month.
Interestingly, they have met seven times on Saturdays, with Yanga having a better record on these days.
With both teams coming off 3-0 away victories Yanga against Pamba in Mwanza and Simba against Coastal Union in Arusha this game holds significant importance.
The pressure is on both teams as a win would give them a huge advantage in the race for the league title.
Simba coach Fadlu Davids is preparing for his third Kariakoo Derby, having lost 1-0 in the Community Shield semi-final and 1-0 in the first round of the league.
For Yanga’s Miloud Hamdi, this will be his first Kariakoo Derby in the country.
This game is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to add another chapter to the fierce rivalry that has defined Tanzanian football for decades.
