The Kariakoo, pitting Young Africans (Yanga) against their arch-rivals Simba SC, goes down today, Wednesday 25 June, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium from 1700 hrs.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe match will have more significance than just the bragging rights of the derby; it will determine which of the two rivals wins the Tanzanian Premier League.This is also the last match of the season, with the rest of the 14 clubs in the league having already completed their season on Sunday, 22 June.Why former Spurs midfielder warned teammates against going close to Victor WanyamaAhead of the match, Yanga are at the summit of the league table with 79 points, just a point better than Simba, with third-placed Azam managing 63 points throughout the season.Yanga just need to avoid defeat in order to be crowned champions for what would be their fourth consecutive league title, matching a similar feat by Simba between 2018 and 2021.For Simba, they have to win the match in order to clinch the title and halt Yanga’s recent dominance of the Tanzanian league.##NAJAVA_MECA_8992123##Yanga tactician Miloud Hamdi is wary of Simba’s threat but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to triumph.“A derby is not a game that requires much talk. It is a match for the players to compete on the field, and players know what they need to do in the match.We respect Simba, but we are Yanga and we will do whatever it takes to win the league,” said Hamdi.Kenyan referee to officiate Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup clashHamdi’s sentiments were echoed by his centre back, Dickson Job, who went ahead to rally the fans to fill the stadium.“On behalf of the players, we have prepared well and are well aware of the significance of the match. We ask all our members and fans to turn out in large numbers and support us,” stated Job.Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids, on his part, urged his players to maintain a high intensity match, especially after a frustrating 1-0 victory over Kagera Sugar in their last match, where he felt they could have done better.##NAJAVA_MECA_8992117##“We still have to do the job, do the right things, execute our principles with the ball and without the ball. It is important to keep the intensity high in the match.”Yanga have the most lethal attack in the league, having scored 81 goals so far, 12 goals better than Simba, who are second, although the latter boasts the league’s top scorer, Jean Charles Ahoua, who has plundered 16 goals.Yanga equally have the best defense and have conceded just 10 goals throughout the season, suffering two defeats in the process.Kenyan winger secures promotion to Spanish second tier with Real Sociedad BSimba have also had a good defense, conceding 11 goals in the season and have only tasted defeat once this season, their first leg loss to Yanga.Key Battles expected in the matchMiloud Hamdi vs Fadlu DavidsAt the centre of the battles expected in the match will be on the touchline, where Yanga’s Algerian-French tactician Miloud Hamdi will face off in a tactical battle with Simba’s South African tactician Fadlu Davids.With several formations and tactics expected at play in the match, the coach who gets the majority of his tactics right is most likely to be the winner of the match.##NAJAVA_MECA_8992145##Khalid Aucho vs Luanda NgomaIn the middle of the park, the battle will see the experienced duo of former Gor Mahia star Khalid Aucho for Yanga face off with Luanda Ngoma of Simba.The control of midfield will be key in this match in not only influencing each team’s attack, but the duo will also be tasked with dictating play and breaking attacks their opponents’ attack.With both players tried and tested in their roles, the midfield battle is expected to be fierce and will definitely affect the outcome of the match.Harambee Stars defender signs for South Sudanese sidePrince Dube vs Chamou KaraboueYanga’s Prince Dube, a lethal striker and the second top goal scorer in the league, will be the main man tasked with getting the goals for Yanga.However, he will have to outdo Chamou Karaboue at the heart of the Simba defense, who is well aware that a clean sheet will be key in helping his team to dethrone Yanga from the top.Jean Charles Ahoua vs Dickson JobOne of the key highlights of the game will be the battle between the league’s top scorer, Simba’s Jean Charles Ahoua and the bullish Dickson Job at the heart of Yanga’s defense.##NAJAVA_MECA_8992129##Ahoua has proven himself this season with 16 goals to his name, while Job has also marshalled the Yanga defense that has conceded the least number of goals in the league.Each player will be expected by their respective teams to be at their best today in the title decider.
