BY any metric, this is now a crisis. Young Africans SC (Yanga) have not just beaten Simba SC once again – they have humiliated them by stretching their winning run to six consecutive derbies, this time with a 1-0 victory in the Community Shield final at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Pacome Zouzoua’s clinical 54th-minute strike was enough to separate the two sides, but the result was more than just a one-goal defeat. It was a statement that Young Africans’ dominance over their fierce rivals is no longer a blip or a temporary phase – it is the new normal.

The significance of this win cannot be overstated. Young Africans’ sixth straight victory in a fixture that used to be the most unpredictable in Tanzanian football sends shockwaves far beyond Dar es Salaam. This is now psychological ownership. Simba have gone four derbies under head coach Fadlu Davids without scoring a single goal. The accusation of a one-sided rivalry is not far-fetched.

For all of Simba’s spending power, their much-vaunted transfer activity, and their stated ambitions of reclaiming domestic supremacy, the team remains blunt where it matters most – in the moments that define seasons. Once again, they left the pitch on Tuesday with heads bowed, while Young Africans’ players celebrated with their fans as if this was a title-decider.

To be fair, Simba had their chances. In the first half, Kibu Denis and Shomari Kapombe both found themselves in good positions, only to be thwarted by Young Africans’ imperious goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. Prince Dube could have made it worse before halftime had he not miscued a glorious chance created by Aziz Andabwile. But these moments only tell part of the story.

When Pacome pounced nine minutes after the restart – latching on to Maxi Nzengeli’s pass and slotting calmly past Moussa Camara – there was an air of inevitability about it. The goal didn’t just give Young Africans the lead; it crushed Simba’s fragile confidence. What followed was a familiar script. Simba chased shadows, made substitutions, and threw men forward, but Young Africans’ back line held firm with a calmness that spoke of a team that knows how to win big games.

And that, right there, is the problem for Simba. They are no longer a team that believes it can win this fixture. The fear factor has shifted entirely to the green-and-yellow half of the city. In the stands, Young Africans fans now sing with swagger. On the pitch, their players carry themselves with the poise of champions.

For Davids, the clock is ticking. Losing four consecutive derbies without scoring is not just a bad record – it is the kind of run that defines coaching tenures. You do not survive very long at a club of Simba’s stature if you cannot beat Young Africans. His tactical approach is being questioned more than ever. Is he too cautious? Is he overthinking these matches? Or is this simply a case of a coach who cannot motivate his players to rise to the occasion?

Beyond Davids, Simba’s leadership must face some uncomfortable truths. This is no longer just a technical problem; it is psychological. A team that once prided itself on being the country’s most feared side is now playing second fiddle. Six consecutive defeats in this derby is not just an outlier – it is a power shift.

Young Africans’ resurgence over the past four seasons has been systematic and ruthless, with careful squad building, strategic coaching hires, and a clear football philosophy. Simba, on the other hand, appear to be lurching from one crisis to the next, their solution often being to throw money at new signings without addressing structural issues.

The Community Shield might not be a league game, but it is an important marker ahead of the 2025/26 Mainland Premier League season but is a big psychological advantage in the title race. It firmly endorses that Young Africans are still the team to beat yet again.