IT is striking how local football’s two behemoths Simba SC and Young Africans SC have experienced contrasting fortunes in continental football championships thus far this season.

Indeed, while Simba have registered two victories and only suffered one loss in the CAF Confederations Cup’s group stage so far, Young Africans in stark contrast have painfully suffered two defeats and earned a measly point from their draw with Congolese titans TP Mazembe last Saturday in the CAF Champions League’s group stage.

Simba’s loads of supporters are most likely in high spirits at the moment after their beloved club claimed an uplifting albeit slim 2-1 win against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien last Sunday at the magnificent Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. 

Contrastingly, Young Africans’ teeming supporters are likely feeling down presently following their storied club’s huge struggles to secure their first triumph in the CAF Champions League’s group stage, which has again proven to be beyond their reach.

Perhaps, the only consolation for Young Africans is that the club was able to snap its two-game losing streak in their fascinating 1-1 draw with TP Mazembe last Saturday in the crucial group stage clash of the CAF Champions League.

Therefore, as a result of their contrasting form in continental football’s highly prized competitions, it is incumbent upon Simba to avoid resting on their laurels in upcoming fixtures.

For Young Africans’ part, it is vividly clear that the Jangwani Street-based football outfit swiftly needs to pull up its socks otherwise they could potentially miss out on partaking in the knockout round of the CAF Champions League.

Let us stick with the football theme and proudly revel in the fabulous feats of our national under-15 football team, who recently clinched the CAF CECAFA U-15 Schools Championship trophy following their commendable 2-0 triumph against Rwanda in the high stakes final late last week.

At this critical juncture, it should be remembered that the national U-20 football team secured their spot in next year’s AFCON U-20 finals earlier this year, which prompted widespread jubilation across our country.

In light of that, it is crystal clear to see that youth football in our country is in fine fettle.

In addition, it can justifiably be argued that there is great hope for the future because of the seemingly endless potential of our talented youngsters who are rapidly emerging as wizards of the ‘people’s game’.

Let us now continue our reflections on the concluding year in which European football stars of African descent wowed an admiring global audience with their magical football skills.

One such budding football great was the Spanish right winger Lamine Yamal, who is incontestably a precociously gifted 17-year-old attacker.

Indeed, Yamal’s mother hails from Equatorial Guinea while his father comes from Morocco.

At the prestigious European 2024 football Championship in Germany, Yamal’s bag of tricks was on full display as he revealed the range of his unerring passes, his riveting dribbling skills and his penchant for unleashing powerful shots that were often right on the money.

Significantly, Spain ended up securing the coveted Euro 2024 trophy, thanks in no small part to the praiseworthy contributions from its gifted teenage sensation.

Thus, it is hoped that Yamal can continue to evolve fully into one of the most feared attackers in world football.