THE highly anticipated Tanzania Premier League clash between Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC that was initially scheduled for last Saturday was thrown into controversy following its postponement by the league’s governing body.

However, Young Africans have strongly opposed the decision, arguing that it was made outside the league’s established regulations.

In an official statement, Young Africans’ executive committee, under the leadership of club president Engineer Hersi Said (pictured), expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation. 

The club has declared that it will not participate in the match if rescheduled, calling for the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to intervene and appoint a new leadership for the Mainland Premier League’s organizing committee.

The dispute began when Simba attempted to conduct a training session at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on the night of Friday March 7, 2025, without securing prior approval through the official channels. 

The stadium authorities, citing the lack of proper notification, denied Simba access, leading to the club announcing a boycott of the match. 

This triggered widespread uncertainty among football stakeholders.

Despite reassurances from the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) chairman, Steven Mnguto, that the game would proceed as scheduled, the league’s organizing committee later announced its postponement. 

Young Africans have since rejected this decision, labelling it as a violation of league protocols.

In a detailed letter addressed to stakeholders, Young Africans emphasized that it had fulfilled all match preparations per the league’s regulations, including attending the official Match Coordination Meeting (MCM) on March 7. The club accused Simba of failing to follow due process in requesting the use of the stadium for their pre-match training session.

Young Africans described Simba’s attempt to access the stadium as irregular, noting that the club arrived with multiple vehicles, expecting an unscheduled training session. With no formal request submitted during the MCM, the stadium management rightfully denied their entry. 

The letter further criticized Simba’s subsequent decision to boycott the game, despite being fully aware of their procedural oversight.

The Young Africans’ executive committee has laid out three key demands in response to the situation: 

*Awarding Young Africans the Victory – The club insists that, according to league rules, when a team refuses to play, the opposing side should be granted an automatic victory.

*Refusal to Play a Rescheduled Match – Young Africans have declared that it will not participate in the match if the league body attempts to set a new date, maintaining that Simba’s boycott should result in a forfeit.

*Overhaul of League Leadership – The club has expressed a loss of confidence in the league’s organizing committee, particularly chairman Steven Mnguto and secretary Almas Kasongo, urging TFF to dissolve the committee and appoint competent officials who will uphold football integrity.

Amid the ongoing dispute, Young Africans have called on their members and supporters worldwide to remain calm as the club pursue legal and regulatory avenues to uphold their rights. The club reassured fans that it is committed to ensuring that football governance remains transparent and fair.

As the standoff between Young Africans, Simba, and league authorities continues, all eyes will be on TFF’s next move. The federation face mounting pressure to address Young Africans’ grievances and make a ruling that preserves the credibility of Tanzania’s top-tier football league.