Dar derby rescheduled to June 25
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Dar es Salaam Derby between Young Africans FC and Simba SC, originally slated for this Sunday at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, has been officially rescheduled to June 25 at the same venue.
The decision comes after weeks of tension and disputes between Yanga, Simba and the league authorities.
The controversy surrounding the derby began on March 8, 2025, when Simba SC was denied access to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium for their final training session ahead of the scheduled match.
Simba cited such denial as a breach of league regulations and subsequently refused to participate in the match.
Yanga, the designated host, insisted that the game proceed as scheduled, leading to a standoff that prompted the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) to postpone the fixture indefinitely.
In response to the postponement, Yanga filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), seeking to be awarded a 3-0 victory and consequently three points.
However, CAS dismissed the appeal on May 1, 2025, ruling that Yanga had not exhausted all local judicial channels before seeking international arbitration.
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The tribunal also stated that it “manifestly has no jurisdiction to decide on the matter.” Consequently, Yanga’s request for a default win was denied, and the case was removed from CAS’s docket.
In an effort to resolve the dispute, a meeting was convened by the Minister of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Palamagamba Kabudi, bringing together officials from the TFF, TPLB, and representatives from both Yanga and Simba.
Despite the discussions, Yanga maintained their position, reaffirming their demand for a default victory rather than a rescheduled match.
Club’s President, Hersi Said, stressed that the club’s leadership remain resolute in protecting their interests and those of itheir supporters.
The rescheduled derby is now set to take place on June 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM (EAT) at the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
