Arajiga in the hot seat again for Yanga-Simba city derby

Dar es Salaam. A no-nonsense referee, Ahmed Arajiga, has been appointed to officiate the highly anticipated match between Tanzania’s traditional rivals, Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba, scheduled for Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

This will be Arajiga’s fifth time officiating a match between Yanga and Simba. Known for his strict and firm enforcement of the rules, Arajiga is a referee who does not tolerate misconduct, with decisions that are often final and direct.

He is also recognized for maintaining control of the match by ensuring players adhere to the rules and are held accountable for their actions on the field. Arajiga will be assisted by Mohammed Mkono and Kassim Mpanga, with Amina Kyando serving as the fourth official.

Records show that in the previous four matches Arajiga has officiated between Yanga and Simba, two in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League and two in the CRDB Federation Cup (formerly the Azam Federation Cup). 

Statistics show that Yanga have been fortunate under his officiating whereby out of four matches, Yanga won three and lost one. During the victories, Yanga scored eight goals while allowing only three.

 A memorable match for both Yanga and Arajiga was the impressive 5-1 victory over Simba in the first round of the Tanzania Mainland Premier League on November 5, 2023.

A record set

By being appointed to officiate the Kariakoo Derby on Saturday, Arajiga, Mkono, and Mpanga will set a record as the referees who have officiated the most Yanga and Simba matches compared to their peers. 

The trio previously worked together on the match held on April 20, 2024, where Yanga defeated Simba 2-1. Before that, they also officiated the match on November 11, 2023, where Yanga won 5-1.

International recognition

Arajiga earned his international referee badge from the world football governing body (FIFA) in 2022. Since then, he has established himself as a highly respected referee who strictly follows the 17 laws of football with great attention to detail. His high-level officiating has earned him opportunities to oversee several international matches in both club and national team competitions.

His first international match was on September 10, 2022, between ASAS of Djibouti and AS Kigali of Rwanda in the CAF Confederation Cup, which ended in a goalless draw. Since then, he has officiated in eight international matches, issuing a total of 11 yellow cards.

His excellent performance has caught the attention of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has appointed him to officiate at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, set to be held in Tanzania this August.

In the competitions, he will collaborate with assistant referee Frank Komba to represent Tanzania.

A steady profile

Arajiga was born in Manyara on July 3, 1991. For two consecutive seasons, he has won the Best Referee award in the Tanzania Premier League.

This season in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League, Arajiga has issued a total of 24 cards: two red cards, 22 yellow cards, and has awarded three penalties. With such a high level of officiating, there is no doubt that Arajiga is the master of the Derby.