Hersi re-elected, budget balloons

DAR ES SALAAM: YOUNG Africans SC have re-elected Hersi Said (pictured) as president for another four-year term as the club prepares to significantly increase spending on its playing squad.

Hersi was approved by the club’s general meeting after standing unopposed in the presidential election and will serve until 2030. Arafat Haji was also endorsed to continue as vice-president for the same four-year period after standing unopposed for the position.

The leadership vote comes as Yanga prepares for a major increase in spending in the 2026/27 financial year. The club’s budget projects expenditure of 36bn/-, with salaries and allowances rising by 30 per cent to 13.1bn/-.

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Spending on player transfers and registration is also expected to increase by 30 per cent, from 6.7bn/- to 8.7bn/-. The increased investment reflects Yanga’s ambitions to strengthen their squad and compete for domestic honours and success in the CAF Champions League.

The club also expects to increase spending on match logistics, travel and food by 15 per cent to 5.75bn/-, while training camp costs are projected to rise by 10 per cent to 822m/-.

Yanga’s sponsorship and advertising income is forecast to grow by 10 per cent to 13.4bn/-, while revenue from winning prizes is projected to rise by 20 per cent to 3.4bn/-. Gate revenue is expected to increase by 15 per cent to 1.25bn/-, with membership fees forecast to rise by 10 per cent to 1.24bn/-.

Overall revenue is projected at 20.7bn/-, compared with 29.4bn/- recorded in 2025/26. The club’s financial plan therefore projects a deficit of 15.3bn/-, although the main focus of the new budget is increased investment in the squad and the club’s operations. Yanga recorded a surplus of 17.5m/- in the 2025/26 financial year.