The Dar es Salaam Derby Drama: A Tale of Owls, Bolting Coaches, and Giant Billboards

DAR ES SALAAM – Tanzania’s top-flight football clubs, Simba and Yanga, or Yanga and Simba (depending on who the hosts are), are always in a perpetual game of musical chairs with their coaching staff.

Their intense rivalry has, years in and years out, become a seesaw affair, with each club’s misfortune becoming a source of hilarity for the other—in turns.

Fans humorously compare any quandary that hits their club to a ‘Bundi’ (an owl), believed to carry jinxes in Swahili belief.

This metaphor, deeply rooted in Tanzanian culture, symbolises the misfortunes that befall a club, often attributed to supernatural forces, adding a unique dimension to the rivalry.

The spectacle? When one club has hiccups, it is always whispered that a ‘Bundi’ has descended on its roof, its night-long hooting bringing lousy luck, resulting in civil unrest…!

Though humorous, this belief in the ‘Bundi’ issue often affects the club’s morale and performance, adding a psychological dimension to the rivalry.

For three seasons now, the owl of ill fortune, or our infamous ‘Bundi’, seems to have developed an affinity for Simba at their Msimbazi Street clubhouse!

This three-year cycle of ongoing mishaps at the club and uncanny misfortunes brings more than just a hint of joy and relief to their rivals.

Yanga, who also must brace themselves for an imminent visit from the ‘Bundi’ if and when the tides change unexpectedly, should only relax partially…

But currently sitting comfortably at the top and laughing at Simba’s tribulations, Yanga seems to have absorbed a lesson from their rivals over the years: Keep the ‘Bundi’s nest far from your roof.

At least for the time being… It is an open secret that this derby owl only favours one club at a time. It has never landed on both roofs at the same time.

A single loss against Simba or misjudgement might cause the owl to start building its nest at the junction of Twiga and Jangwani Streets clubhouse.

Meanwhile, after a two-decade hiatus, the revived Muungano Cup tournament gave the humiliated Simba a reprieve last weekend.

It was an alluring opportunity for Simba to do all it could to break at least some impediments by winning the coveted Union Cup final between them and Azam FC.

But the big question was, will Simba chase away the ‘Bundi’ from their Msimbazi street roof through the Muungano Cup? Will it remove the sting of their NBC Premier League double defeat to Yanga?

All our eyes were on the highly decorated Algerian coach Abdelahak Benchikha, who was tasked with the colossal responsibility of guiding the team through this crucial match with Juma Mgunda, his ever-trusty assistant, in tow.

On the other hand, Azam FC, in pursuit of their first Muungano Cup tournament triumph ever, was set to beat Simba and claim the glorious title. But that was not to be…

Simba won by 1-0 at the spanking New Amaan Complex in front of the President of Zanzibar, Chairman of the Revolutionary Government, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and a mammoth crowd of Isles football enthusiasts.

Kudos to the scorer of the only goal, Senegalese midfielder Babacar Sarr, who, in the 77th minute, finished off a free kick by defender Israel Mwenda after the Cameroonian Willy Onana was brought down just outside the box.

Simba SC was awarded 50 million Tshs for that victory, while the second winner, Azam FC, received 30 million Tshs.

This was the second title for Simba SC this season after they started with the Community Shield title when they beat none other than their bitter rivals, Yanga, last August in Tanga City.

But all that, combined, was insufficient to drive away the nocturnal bird’s bugaboo, which Swahili people believe always carries a bad omen!

Instead of the ‘Bundi’ flapping its wings to Jangwani as expected, hardly 48 hours later, salt was added to Simba’s wound—coach Benchikha announced he was flying back to Algiers!

Reason? Yanga’s 2-7 aggregate defeat – Ops! Sorry… Family problems. His darling wife is very sick and must be there; he can’t concentrate on making Simba great again.

That is how intense Simba and Yanga are. You can even win the World Cup, but your triumph is considered a conquest ONLY if you have beaten your arch-rival!

A whiff of their history:

The two clubs were founded in the early 20th century during the colonial era.

Yanga was established in 1935 by young men who wanted to create a football club for Africans instead of the European and Asian clubs.

That is why its original and official name is Young Africans Football Club, and Yanga is its moniker.

On the other hand, Simba Sports Club was founded in 1936 by a group of Dar es Salaam residents loyal to the society’s affluent members.

Simba was then known as Sunderland until a call from somewhere advised clubs to have and maintain local names.

The two clubs represent different classes of fans, with Yanga being the favourite of the primarily working-class crowd known as ‘Wananchi’ (Citizens).

Simba is associated with the affluent class boasting themselves as ‘Wenye nchi’ (owners of the land).

Though in jest, this division has further fuelled the rivalry, as each side seeks to assert dominance on the football field and in the broader society.

Both clubs have enjoyed periods of dominance. The balance of power has shifted back and forth between them, with each always striving to outdo the other.

This competitive spirit has led to memorable matches and moments in Tanzanian football history.

The paradox is that the Dar es Salaam Derby is unpredictable, no matter what the other might be suffering from. It is also the decider of the ‘Bundi’s destiny.

Therefore, matches between the two clubs are always highly anticipated due to the ‘Bundi’ scare, with fans feverishly supporting their respective teams in massive numbers.

Despite their best efforts, Simba has yet to shake off the ‘Bundi’, with their interim coach, Juma Mgunda and his assistant, Selemani Matola, struggling to turn their fortunes around.

Yanga, on the other hand, is enjoying a successful season under their clean-shaven Argentinian coach, Miguel Gamondi, and is looking forward to lifting the league title again.

After clinching the title again, a huge winner’s parade is planned, and already giant billboards advertising their 7-2 defeat of Simba are erected all over the city.

Nonetheless, many fans argue that the constant turnover of coaching staff disrupts the team’s rhythm and prevents them from building a consistent style of play.

They are deeply concerned about the grave impact of these frequent technical bench changes on the players and worry that the lack of stability affects their performance and morale.

The fans repeatedly express their dissatisfaction through social media platforms, forums, and even during matches with banners and chants.

Amusingly, some fans also view these changes with a sense of humour.

They see coaches’ constant hiring and firing as a primary spicy ingredient in the ‘sweetness’ of the two clubs’ ongoing rivalry.

Moving forward, we embark on a captivating journey to explore the unique charm and palpable energy that sets apart Tanzania’s football scene. T

This vibrant hub of football exhilarates the East African Community, cherishing both passionate support and the thrill of intense rivalry.

Ulinzi imara 💪 #WenyeNchi #NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/RiCEG2JMZc

— Simba Sports Club (@SimbaSCTanzania) May 4, 2024

What is noteworthy is the shift in the enthusiasm surrounding football in the region.

Even top civil servants, who once hesitated to declare their team preferences, proudly profess their allegiance. Their passion for the sport adds to the bubbling excitement.

Football, much more than just a sport, subtly portrays unity in diversity in Tanzania, drawing the interest of even the most unlikely suspects.

It is a heartening scene, watching Mama often engage in light-hearted banter about the competing teams despite keeping her loyalty a secret, adding to the overall cheer and charm.

What is most striking is the spirit of camaraderie that football evokes in Tanzanian society.

This unique sense of unity and harmony, a testament to football’s impact, reportedly stands unmatched across the continent.

Also read: The Declining popularity of Tanzania Beauty Pageants

With its perfect blend of excitement, drama, passion, and unity, the Tanzanian football scene is one of the best illustrations of the quintessential African spirit.

Football in Tanzania acts as a unifying force, bringing together people from different ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.

The shared love for the sport transcends these differences and fosters community and togetherness.

The excitement and anticipation that build up towards a match, the collective joy of a win, and the shared disappointment of a loss all contribute to a sense of unity.

Lastly, football in Tanzania contributes to societal unity by encouraging healthy competition.

Despite their fierce rivalry, the two clubs find common ground in their love for the game, a unifying force in Tanzanian society that transcends their on-field battles.

This balance between competition and respect contributes to a more harmonious society.

And when it comes to the thriving landscape of Tanzanian football, which is a unique charm in the region, all credit goes to Yanga and Simba, or Simba and Yanga.

Irrespective of who is hosting the ‘Bundi’ at the moment….