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HERSI: YANGA (YOUNG AFRICANS) STAND FIRM ON DAR ES SALAAM DERBY DISPUTE
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| YOUNG Africans Sports Club (Yanga) president, Engineer Hersi Said |
YOUNG Africans Sports Club (Yanga) president, Engineer Hersi Said, has reaffirmed the club’s stance regarding the postponed Dar es salaam Derby against Simba SC, emphasizing that the club has clearly conveyed its position to the government and football authorities.
Hersi (pictured) made the remarks following a high-profile meeting held on Thursday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting, convened by Minister of information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, brought together officials from the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB), and representatives from both Young Africans and Simba to discuss the unresolved issue of match number 184 of the Mainland Premier League.
“The Yanga leadership, including the executive committee, met with the minister, deputy minister, secretary-general, deputy secretary-general, and the chairman of the National Sports Council,” Hersi stated.
He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to present Young Africans’ position on the matter.
“Yanga had the opportunity to convey the most fundamental facts regarding the match. The ministry wanted to hear directly from the club’s leadership about the circumstances surrounding the game,” he said.
Hersi further stressed that Young Africans’ responsibility as an institution is to protect its interests and those of its members and fans.
“As leaders, our duty is to safeguard the interests of our institution, which in turn represents our members and the team. We have made it clear where we stand, and the minister and his team listened attentively. They asked questions, and we responded accordingly,” he added.
According to Hersi, Minister Kabudi emphasized that the meeting was not meant to decide the fate of the match but rather to facilitate discussions and explore possible solutions.
“The minister clarified that this is not a decision-making forum but rather an opportunity to understand the issue better and find a way forward,” Hersi noted.
Despite the ongoing deliberations, reports from the meeting indicate that Young Africans have not wavered in their demand to be awarded three points rather than rescheduling the game against Simba.
The club argues that its stance is justified based on the circumstances surrounding the initial postponement of the highly anticipated fixture, which was originally scheduled for March 8, 2025.
Hersi assured Young Africans’ supporters that the club’s leadership remains resolute and is committed to securing the best possible outcome.
“I want to tell Yanga members and fans that we are here to manage the club’s interests. They should be assured that their leaders are strong and working to protect the institution. We urge them to remain calm as we continue engaging in discussions. We will return to inform them of any developments,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources suggest that Minister Kabudi insisted on hearing all perspectives before determining the next course of action.
With both Young Africans and Simba standing their ground, it remains to be seen how football authorities will navigate the standoff and whether a resolution will be reached in the coming meetings.
- Seth Mapoli
Wednesday, 4 September 2024
ARUSHA STADIUM NAMED AFTER SAMIA SULUHU TO HOST AFCON 2027 MATCHES
The Tanzanian government has affirmed that the Arusha Stadium will be completed in time for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football games, which will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
This was revealed recently by the Tanzania Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports, Damas Ndumbaro, in an interview with The Citizen.
Ndumbaro stated that the initial phase of the stadium’s construction has reached five percent, which includes site preparation, procurement, and the construction of contractor offices.
He expressed satisfaction with the speed and capability of the contractor carrying out the work and believes they will meet the target.
“The pace of progress is impressive, and we are confident that the contractor will meet the deadline, allowing Tanzania to make history with this achievement,” stated Ndumbaro.
The stadium is being built in the Olomoti area, and the government will spend not less than Tsh286 billion (Sh13.5bn).
The stadium, which will be named after President Samia Suluhu Hassan, will also include accommodation facilities.
Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda will jointly host the 36th edition of the biennial African football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in June and July 2027, while Morocco will host the 2025 edition.
“We believe the contractor, who was selected after a rigorous process, will meet our expectations,” he added, noting that the stadium is expected to be completed in 22 months.
“We need a quality stadium that will be built on time and meet the expectations of Tanzanians. We want a modern stadium,” Ndumbaro emphasized.
Tanzania plans to host AFCON matches at the Benjamin William Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, and the planned Arusha Stadium.
The new Arusha-based stadium will have a capacity of 30,000 seats and will be the most modern in East Africa.
In addition to domestic and international matches, the stadium will also host various activities, such as athletics and trade events, and will significantly boost tourism in the country.
The stadium will be built by the China Railway Construction Engineering Group Limited (CRCEG), whose officials have promised to build a modern facility.
The Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania bid received the nod from the CAF executive committee last year, bringing the biennial tournament back to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the 1976 finals
- The Citizen
