Simba’s Davids, Yanga’s Folz face off in fiery Dar Derby opener

DAR ES SALAAM: The new Premier League season kicks off today not with a whimper, but with a bang, as two of Africa’s fiercest rivals, Simba SC and Young Africans, clash in the Community Shield.

This high-stake derby is more than just a season opener—it’s a battle of wills, pitting Simba’s assertive South African head coach, Fadlu Davids, against Yanga’s composed French-Moroccan tactician, Romain Folz.
For Davids, this match is the first battle in a long war for silverware.

“I know it’s a Cup to play for, and it’s a Cup we desperately want. It’s a Cup for the fans and this is where the real competition begins,” he declared.

“It’s the first official match of the season, and we’re well prepared after a fantastic pre-season.”

Davids enters the clash with a blend of new signings and trusted veterans, confident that his squad has the right chemistry and momentum.

“We’ve retained our core and added quality. The excitement is real, we’re ready,” he said.

Still, he didn’t shy away from raising the stakes, subtly shifting the weight of expectation onto his arch-rivals.

“I think the pressure is on Yanga. They won everything last season and did so with three different coaches. That brings its own pressure,” he noted, before boldly reinforcing Simba’s continental ambitions.

“One hundred per cent—Simba will win the CAF Champions League in the next few years. We have that ambition,” Davids declared.

On the opposite bench, Romain Folz, Yanga’s composed French-Moroccan tactician, embraced the pressure with philosophical calm.

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“Pressure is always part of the game. The key is how you handle it. Does it give us extra pressure? No. Is pressure here? Yes, and it should be.”

Folz, whose side is fresh off a historic treble-winning season, focused less on mind games and more on tactical depth particularly in the midfield.

“We have several players capable of excelling in midfield. I guarantee that whoever starts or comes off the bench will deliver. This game will be decided by details by who applies the better tactical approach.”

The Community Shield promises more than a trophy, it sets the tone for the season. For Davids, it’s about fire, ambition and breaking Yanga’s dominance. For Folz, it’s about poise, control and extending Yanga’s supremacy.

The Dar es Salaam Derby is one of Africa’s fiercest rivalries. In recent seasons, Yanga have had the upper hand, but Simba have always remained a threat.

In the last eight competitive encounters, Yanga have claimed victory four times, compared to just one win for Simba.

While the dominance is clear, it also means Simba are long overdue for a win that could change the narrative and set the tone for the season.

For Davids, this match is about breaking the chains of Yanga’s recent control. For Folz, it’s about extending a dynasty.