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Yanga now seek compensation, plan to file complaint with CAS
Young Africans (Yanga) players train at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- According to information received by The Citizen, Yanga’s legal team is compiling detailed documentation in preparation for submission.
Dar es Salaam. Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga SC) plan to demand compensation for expenses incurred while preparing for their highly anticipated Mainland Tanzania Premier League match against Simba SC.
The club argue that the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) postponed the fixture in violation of league rules and regulations.
In addition to seeking compensation, Yanga SC is prepared to escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if TPLB and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) fail to uphold their rights.
Legal action and emergency meeting
According to information received by The Citizen, Yanga’s legal team is compiling detailed documentation in preparation for submission.
A club source confirmed that Yanga’s Executive Committee held an emergency meeting to address the circumstances that led to the match's cancellation on March 8, 2025, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
“We have been given a mandate by our members and fans to safeguard the club’s welfare. We will not tolerate any sabotage against Yanga and will fight until justice is served,” the source said.
He further stated that the club management incurred significant costs in preparing the team for the match.
He insisted that the decision to postpone it did not align with league rules and regulations.
“Everybody knows the costs that a team incurs when preparing for a match of this magnitude. It seems the decision to postpone the game does not hold water, and there is a hidden agenda against our team,” said the source.
Loss of confidence in the Premier League Committee
Yanga publicly declared a loss of confidence in the Premier League Committee, led by Chairman Steven Mguto and Secretary Almas Kasongo.
The club urged TFF to dissolve the committee and appoint new, impartial, and competent leaders to ensure fairness in Tanzanian football.
The club cited repeated violations of league regulations and a failure to uphold fairness as reasons for its stance.
Match preparations and Simba’s rule violation
Yanga stated that they followed all necessary procedures for match preparations, including attending the official Match Coordination Meeting (MCM) on March 7, 2025, at 8 p.m. at Spice Hotel, Dar es Salaam.
The meeting was attended by Yanga representatives, match officials, security personnel, referees’ assessors, the match commissioner, and Premier League Board officials.
However, later that night, Simba SC arrived at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium with multiple vehicles, intending to conduct a pre-match training session without following the required procedures, such as securing permission through the MCM and informing the match commissioner, stadium manager, and host team, Yanga.
Yanga’s stand on the situation
The club has insisted that it will not participate in a rescheduled match for fixture number 184, regardless of the new date.
Appreciation and call for calm
The Jangwani Street giants extended their sympathies to their members, fans, and football stakeholders who traveled from various parts of the world to witness the much-anticipated fixture.
The club urged all members and supporters to remain calm while it follows due processes to ensure football regulations are upheld.
