Anxiety as big guns fine-tune for battle of the titans in Dar

Dar es Salaam. Another episode of the Mainland Premier League derby between the country’s football heavyweights Simba and Young Africans is just hours away, slightly over 24 if you read your paper this morning.

Tomorrow, at 4pm at the National Stadium, the showdown dubbed ‘Dar El Clasico’ will be in full swing at the 60,000-seater venue, providing little or no room for error for players on either side.

This is the highlight fixture of the season that every local football fan looks forward to.

And to give the much anticipated derby the visibility it deserves, it will be the only league match of weekend and will be beamed live by Azam TV.

Simba and Yanga, now camping in Zanzibar and Kigamboni on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam respectively, are expected to sell Tanzania’s brand of attractive football to millions across the East African region.

Colourful and controversial are the twin words that best describe the history of the derby.

Sometimes there are claims of witchcraft; sometimes there is violence; but most of the time it is pure football bliss.

For any soccer fan attending tomorrow’s derby will likely witness a fun, family-friendly carnival at which rival fans mix freely. The biggest competition sometimes appears to be over who wears the craziest fancy dress.

“Both Simba and Yanga can’t afford to lose to each other because there are bragging rights and a lot of pride at stake,” says Tanzanian football legend Jella Mtagwa.

“This is what drives both teams whenever they come against each other,” the former Pan African and national team defender says, adding:

“Before the derby, the training gets different. The players make an extra effort to be included in the starting line-up.”

In the stands, a sea of Yanga supporters in yellow and green, and Simba’s fans in red and white, will try to outshine each other with the most outlandish spectator attire.

The camaraderie among opposing fans may come as a surprise to outsiders, but the on-field rivalry is real.

Both teams are fighting for the Mainland Premier League title and a ticket for the CAF Champions League next year - and a derby victory that counts above all others.

“Derbies don’t start with the players on the field, they start with the family,” says the National Amateur Netball Association (Chaneta) chairperson, Anna Kibira, who is a Yanga fan.

Kibira, once one of the best netball players in the country, is among hundreds of soccer enthusiasts expected to turn up at the National Stadium tomorrow to witness the top-of-the-table showdown.

Simba have been camping in Zanzibar since last week under the tutelage of Cameroonian coach Joseph Omog.

After a week-long training camp in Zanzibar, Omog simply said: “We are ready.”

Simba, who sit at the summit of the league table with 51 points, two ahead of second-placed Yanga, Both teams are fighting for the title, which has eluded them in recent years.

“We have a strong team and if we are just to maintain our cool; then we are certain of the three points in that match,” said the Msimbazi team manager Mussa Hassan Mgosi.

“All my sensations are positive, not just because we lead the table but for the resources we have at our disposal,” he added.

Simba have been boosted by news that their Zimbabwean defender Method Mwanjali will be available for selection after passing a late fitness test.

Mwanjali was a major doubt for the fixture but has been passed fit to face George Lwandamina’s men in a game which could prove crucial on team confidence this term.

Yanga, on the other hand, are undergoing residential training in Kimbiji, Kigamboni under close supervision of Zambian coach George Lwandamina.

Lwandamina, who guided Yanga to a 6-2 victory on aggregation over Ngaya de Mbe of Comoros in the CAF Champions League preliminary round last week, said nothing will stop his team from wining tomorrow’s match.

Mara Football Association chairman Michael Wambura predicted a tough match, but remained optimistic that it will produce positive results for Simba.

For his part, former Pan African and national team striker Peter Tino urged players of both teams and referee to adhere to fair play.

“When a match is played in a spirit of fairness, everybody benefits,” the Tanzanian football legend said.

“It also helps to create an atmosphere in which players can fully display their talent so that fans get the full measure of enjoyment,” he said.

Popularly known as the Dar derby, the Simba versus Yanga showdown is regarded as the most popular clash in East and Central Africa.

Whenever Simba and Yanga face off the whole East Africa shakes as the two teams command huge following throughout the region.

Simba, for instance, have many fans in Kenya, Sudan and Zambia while their arch-rivals Yanga boast many supporters in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

As tomorrow’s clash looms, The Citizen casts ‘its eye’ over other big derbies in African football.

These are the games soccer enthusiasts look for when fixtures are drawn up. The games fans watch religiously on TVs at various entertainment spots. They are much more than normal football matches.

Asante Kotoko vs Hearts of Oak (Ghana)

It’s regarded as the biggest rivalry in Ghana football. It is a rivalry like no other. Unlike most, it lacks a proper name and the teams involved aren’t even located in the same city. Still, the feud shared by Kumasi’s Asante Kotoko and Accra’s Hearts of Oak is as captivating as any other on the continent, and for genuinely strong reasons.

Al Ahly vs Zamalek (Egypt)

The showpiece that defines Egyptian football and arguably the highlight of the Arab footballing calendar. Games between these Egyptian giants are so hotly contested that foreign referees are brought in to officiate. The rivalry between the clubs is driven by location and success. Both clubs are located in the Greater Cairo area, and were rated by the CAF to be Africa’s top two clubs during the 20th Century. The intensity between the two sets of fans is immense. Officials go to great lengths to keep them separate, including redirecting traffic in Cairo on match days to avoid confrontations between supporters.

Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)

Soweto derby is game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa’s two most historically successful clubs. Bother outfits are situated in Soweto, Johannesburg.

It is often held at 90,000-seater FNB Stadium so as to accommodate many fans. The derby has resulted in a number of notable incidents, including two major riots, the Ellis Park and Orkney Stadium disasters. Both occurred during a Soweto derby, and resulted in the deaths of 43 and 42 people respectively.

Club Africain vs Espearance (Tunisia)

In Tunisian football, the Tunis derby is the local match between the two top clubs in Tunis, Club Africain and ES Tunis. The derby is played in Rades at the Stade 7 Novembre Stadium due to its larger capacity of 65,000 seats.

Both teams play their home games at the Stade Olympique d’El Menzah Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000 seats.

Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards (Kenya)

It is popularly known as Nairobi derby. It is considered the oldest, the most intense and most famous rivalry of all time in the history of Kenyan football.

The rivalry is predominantly tribal with Gor Mahia fan base dominated by Luo while that of AFC leopards is mostly Luhya, despite the significant support of “neutrals” (other communities or nationalities) for both clubs.

The passion of fans during the derbies make them (matches) ‘thrillers’. These games sometimes end chaos. Games involving the two sides normally take place at Nyao Stadium or Moi International Stadium, Kasarani.

SC Villa Vs Express FC (Uganda)

Though currently fading due to weaknesses at both clubs in terms of management and organisation, the rivalry between the two clubs in undisputed when it comes to Ugandan football.

It stems from the fact that ‘Jogoo,’ as SC Villa are fondly referred to, originated from Express FC after the latter was banned by a government during Idi Amin’s reign.

Games between the two outfits used to end in fans riots and firing of tear gas by the anti-riot police. At the intensity of this rivalry, neither side could accept defeat but allege each other of bribing referees. Most referees appointed to handle these games would refuse for fear of being roughed up by fans.

Al Merrickh Vs Al Hilal (Sudan):

There is a historical rivalry between these two strongest clubs in Sudan. Both clubs are based in Omdurman, the old national capital of Sudan with Al-Hilal with the most wins in the Sudan Premier League of the two teams and Al-Merrickh won the most Sudan Cups out of the two teams.

The first match between the two was in 1934 when Al-Merrickh defeated Al-Hilal 2–0. The match is known historically as The Match of the Green Grass Market, since there were no stadiums at that time and the match was held in the famous square of Omdurman, the national capital of Sudan.

During day time the square was used by green grass sellers and football matches were played in the afternoons. Today, the match is still very famous and it was the actual start of rivalry between the two very famous Sudanese football clubs

Wydad Casablanca Vs Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

It’s referred to as ‘Casablanca derby’ since both clubs are located in the city and is traditionally played at the 80,000-capacity Mohammed V Stadium so as to accommodate the crowd.

Casablanca experiences a slowdown on derby day as many shops and other businesses close a few hours before the game kicks off. The event is a matter of debate for several days before and after the derby between supporters of both clubs, on the streets, schools or workplaces.

Other famous derbies in African football include Santos vs Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, Enugu Rangers vs Enyimba in Nigeria, ASEC Mimosas vs Africa Sports in Cote d’Ivoire, Caps United vs Power Dynamos in Zimbabwe and Canon Yaoundé and Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon.

Al Ahly Vs Zamalek (Egypt)

It is the showpiece that defines Egyptian football and arguably the highlight of the Arab footballing calendar.

Games between these Egyptian giants are so hotly contested that foreign referees are brought in to officiate.

The rivalry between the clubs is driven by location and success. Both clubs are located in the Greater Cairo area, and were rated by the CAF to be Africa’s top two clubs during the 20th Century.

The intensity between the two sets of fans is immense. Officials go to great lengths to keep them separate, including redirecting traffic in Cairo on match days to avoid confrontations between supporters.

Orlando Pirates Vs Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)

The Soweto derby is a match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa’s two most historically successful clubs, both situated in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg.

The derby is often contested in the 90,000 seater FNB Stadium in order to accommodate the large crowds. The derby has resulted in a number of notable incidents.

These include two major riots, the Ellis Park and Orkney Stadium disasters.

Both occurred at a Soweto derby game, and resulted in the deaths of 43 and 42 people respectively.

Club Africain Vs Espearance (Tunisia)

Tunis derby is a match between two top clubs in Tunis, Club Africain and ES Tunis. It is played in Rades in the Stade 7 Novembre stadium due to its larger capacity of 65,000 seats.

Gor Mahia Vs AFC Leopards (Kenya)

Famously known as the ‘Nairobi derby’ in Africa, Kenyans call it ‘Shemeji derby’.

It is considered the oldest, most intense, most famous and the bitterest rivalry of all time in the history of Kenyan football.

The passion of the fans during encounters between the teams make the derby matches “thrillers”. These derby matches have on most occasions ended in fan riots and claiming lives of people while others escape with injuries. The games involving the two are normally played at Nyao stadium or Moi International Stadium, Kasarani.

SC Villa Vs Express FC (Uganda)

Though currently fading due to weaknesses at both clubs in terms of management and organisation, the rivalry between these two clubs in undisputed when it comes to Ugandan football. It stems from the fact that ‘Jogoo’, as Villa fans refer to their clubs, originated from Express FC after the latter was banned by a government official during Amin’s reign. Games between these two sides used to end in riots and firing of tear gas by the anti-riot police. At the intensity of this rivalry, neither side could accept defeat but allege each other of bribing referees. Most referees appointed to handle these games would refuse for fear of being beaten by fans.

Hearts of Oak Vs Asante Kotoko (Ghana)

It’s regarded as the biggest rivalry in Ghana football. It is a rivalry like no other.

Unlike most, it lacks a proper name and the teams involved aren’t even located in the same city. Still, the feud shared by Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak is as captivating as any other on the continent, and for some genuinely strong reasons, too.

Al Merrickh Vs Al Hilal (Sudan)

There is a historical rivalry between these two strongest clubs in Sudan. Both clubs are based in Omdurman, the old national capital of Sudan with Al-Hilal with the most wins in the Sudan Premier League of the two teams and Al-Merrickh won the most Sudan Cups out of the two teams.

The first match between the two was in 1934 when Al-Merrickh defeated Al-Hilal 2–0.

The match is known historically as The Match of the Green Grass Market, since there were no stadiums at that time and the match was held in the famous square of Omdurman, the national capital of Sudan.

During day time the square was used by green grass sellers and football matches were played in the afternoons.

Today, the match is still very famous and it was the actual start of rivalry between the two very famous Sudanese football clubs

Wydad Casablanca Vs Raja Casablanca (Morocco)

It’s referred to as the ‘Casablanca derby’ since both clubs are located in the city and is traditionally played at the 80,000 capacity Mohammed V Stadium in order to accommodate the crowd.

The city of Casablanca experiences a slowdown on derby day as many shops and other businesses close a few hours before the game. The event is a matter of debate for several days before and after between supporters of both clubs, on the streets, schools or workplaces.

Besides the above, other famous derbies in African football include Santos Vs Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, Enugu Rangers Vs Enyimba in Nigeria, ASEC Mimosas against Africa Sports in Ivory Coast, Caps United against Power Dynamos in Zimbabwe plus Canon Yaoundé and Tonnerre Yaoundé in Cameroon.