Dar es Salaam. Despite vital fixtures this Sunday, which will conclude Round 30 of the NBC Premier League – with leaders Yanga facing Dodoma Jiji and rivals Simba taking on relegated Kagera Sugar – football fans are already fixated on the highly anticipated Kariakoo Derby on June 25..
That high-stakes clash between Tanzania’s football giants will be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and will likely determine the destiny of this season’s league title.
With just one point separating the two sides, the winner of Wednesday’s derby will likely be crowned champion.
As it stands, Yanga lead the table with 76 points from 28 matches, while Simba sit second with 75 points from an equal number of games.
This Sunday, Simba will host Kagera Sugar at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam, while Yanga travel to New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar to face Dodoma Jiji.
Just three days later, the two fierce rivals will meet for their second-round showdown.
Interestingly, historical data from Kariakoo Derby matches played in June gives a slight psychological edge to Yanga.
In the nine matches between the two sides held in June since 1965, Yanga have emerged victorious five times, with Simba claiming two wins and two encounters ending in draws.
A derby written in June’s history
The two teams first met in June on the 7th in 1965, when Yanga won 1-0.
However, the match was ordered to be replayed, a decision Yanga refused to accept, granting Simba then known as Sunderland their first league title.
Yanga followed up with another win on June 3, 1966, defeating Simba 3-2, and famously hammered their rivals 5-0 on June 1, 1968—the heaviest defeat in the derby’s history.
Subsequent June meetings include a 1-1 draw on June 4, 1972, a 1-0 win for Yanga on June 18, 1972, and a 1-0 victory for Simba on June 23, 1973.
Yanga added another win on June 27, 1987, with Edgar Fongo scoring the decisive goal, while their 1-1 draw on June 7, 1998, saw both teams cancel each other out.
The last Kariakoo Derby played on June 25 was in 2000.
On that occasion, Simba triumphed 2-1, courtesy of a brace by Steven Mapunda ‘Garrincha’ after Idd Moshi had put Yanga ahead early in the 4th minute.
Wednesday derby record: Still even
With this year’s decisive derby also falling on a Wednesday, historical midweek clashes show no clear dominance by either side.
In the seven Wednesday derbies since 1991, Simba and Yanga have each won three times, with one match ending in a draw.
Yanga won back-to-back Wednesday fixtures on October 9 and November 13 in 1991, before Simba responded with wins on November 2, 1994, and October 4, 1995.
Yanga took another Wednesday victory on October 23, 1996, and Simba answered in kind on October 24, 2007.
The most recent Wednesday clash, on October 3, 2012, ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with goals from Amri Kiemba for Simba and a penalty equalizer from Said Bahanuzi for Yanga.
Coaches and players under pressure
As the countdown begins, both coaches Miloud Hamdi for Yanga and Fadlu Davids for Simba face enormous pressure, knowing that a single misstep could cost their team the title.
Coach Hamdi acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating that his team must be fully prepared for a strong Simba side, especially given what’s at stake.
Davids, on the other hand, said his focus is first on Sunday’s fixture before turning attention to the do-or-die derby clash midweek.
For the players, the tension is just as high. Whichever team drops points at Benjamin Mkapa risks losing the title.
Yanga are chasing history, hoping to win a fourth consecutive league title, while Simba aim to reclaim the crown for the first time since the 2020/21 season.
The stage is set. Records, pressure, and pride are all on the line. On June 25, history will be made again.
