YOUNG Africans Sports Club (Yanga) have responded strongly to claims by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) that the club owes the federation money, insisting that they have never received any prize money for winning the CRDB Bank Federation Cup in the past three consecutive seasons.

This latest development marks an escalation in a heated dispute between one of the biggest football clubs and the country’s football governing body. 

The disagreement emerged after Young Africans recently, through the club’s head of information and communications, Ali Kamwe (picture), threatened to boycott the 2024/25 Federation Cup final unless they receive what they describe as overdue prize payments.

Following a public statement from TFF on Tuesday  which clarified that the federation does not owe Young Africans and that any funds due were used to offset the club’s outstanding debts, particularly regarding foreign player registration fees, the Jangwani Street-based side has now issued a counter-statement.

In a message published across the club’s official social media platforms, Young Africans categorically rejected TFF’s claims.

“We have seen a statement from the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) claiming Young Africans Sports Club owe them money, without providing any details about the supposed debt,” the club said. “We would like to inform the public that Young Africans Sports Club have never received any money for winning the CRDB Bank Federation Cup for three consecutive seasons  2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024.”

According to Young Africans, it is unacceptable that TFF and its partners continue to organize the competition and crown champions without issuing the associated prize money.

“TFF has held onto this championship prize money at the end of each season, fully aware that this is wrong and against established regulations,” the club stated. “There is no written evidence showing that TFF has ever paid this championship money to Young Africans.”

Young Africans further described the situation as “a disgrace” to the tournament and its sponsors.

“It is a shame, a disgrace, and disrespectful to the sponsor to stage a tournament without paying the rightful winners for three consecutive seasons,” read the club’s statement. “The only remedy for debt is timely payment. If it is the right of the winner, it must be honored. This also maintains respect for the tournament sponsor.”

Addressing TFF’s argument that part of the unpaid prize money was used to settle debts for foreign player fees at the club’s request, Young Africans refuted the reasoning. The club explained that there is a clear distinction between the timelines for those two obligations.

“The foreign player fees referred to by TFF are always paid at the start of the new season, while the CRDB Bank Federation Cup prize money is awarded at the season’s end,” the statement clarified. “We have never received any official communication from TFF that our club owes any money.”

The club insists that the two financial matters should not be mixed or confused.

Young Africans’ statement reinforces its previous demand that unless the Federation Cup prize money for the 2023/24 season is paid in full, they will not participate in the upcoming final against Singida Black Stars. 

The highly anticipated match is scheduled to take place on June 28, 2025, at New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.

“The leadership of Young Africans SC continues to emphasize that the club must be paid its Federation Cup championship prize for the 2023/24 season in order to participate in the final scheduled for June 28, 2025,” the club insisted.

This standoff now casts doubt on the final’s status, with less than three weeks remaining before the fixture. The TFF has invited Young Africans’ financial team for a meeting to reconcile the accounts, but so far, the club has shown no sign of backing down from its public position.

Young Africans unwavering stance and strong-worded statement have rallied their supporters and ignited widespread debate among Tanzanian football fans. Many are calling for transparency from both sides, warning that the controversy could damage the integrity of the competition and the reputation of football governance in the country.

The main sponsor of the competition has distanced itself from the matter, confirming that it has already paid all necessary funds to TFF in accordance with their sponsorship agreement.