Yanga gave reasons for rejecting the memorandum of
understanding signed between the Tanzania Premier League committee, the clubs’ representative,
and Azam Media Limited. They cited conflict of interest, loss of business opportunities
and revenues, poor tendering process and their football feud with Azam Fc.
While some of their arguments can be, in one way or another, easily rebutted,
their bitter feud with Azam is a hundred percent certified truth, no one can
argue against it.
Yanga direct admission of the hostility between them by clearly using the word adui zetu, our
enemies, rather than our rivals, has perhaps taken the feud to another level.
For the sake of their business interest Azam may take the diplomatic route in
public. But don’t be fooled, they won’t take that loaded statement lying low, gloves
are out and someone, either Yanga or Azam Fc will deliver the much awaited
knock out.
THE SCENES INVOLVED;
AZAM THREW
THE FIRST PUNCH BY SIGNING NGASSA
After a torrid first season in the premier league where they
narrowly escaped relegation, Azam opened the cheque book and splashed cash on several
players. They knocked on Yanga’s door
with a deal Yanga could not refuse however much they hated it. Yanga is not a
selling club, at times too reluctant to release players even to overseas clubs,
they pride themselves on holding on to their players. Call it Jangwani pride.
Yanga by then led by Madega, cash strapped, claimed Ngassa was not for sale just
to save face. They probably thought they had overpriced him by asking for over
Tsh58mn. Azam accepted the price without blinking or flinching. It was the
first blow though softened by the money. Truth is, Yanga had been shaken,
forced to sell for the first time since Lunyamila move to Malindi in the mid 90’s.
THE 3-1 CONTROVERSIAL
THRASHING
On 10th March,2012 Yanga controversially lost 3-1
to Azam in Dar. It was a tense match that saw Haruna Niyonzima and Nadir Haroub
being sent off. An obviously demon-possessed Haroub went ballistic and beat the
match official,Israel Nkongo as Yanga fans broke plastic seats in the stadium, hurled
all kinds of insults and threw bottles all over. Police intervened with teargas.
Yanga accussed Azam of bribery while Azam called Yanga ‘mere pampered hooligans’
whose kingdom had been badly shaken.
NGASSA KISSES THE YANGA
BADGE WHILE PLAYING FOR AZAM
A visibly frustrated Ngassa warmed the bench during CECAFA Kagame Cup. Ivorian
international Kipre Tchetche had restricted him to some few minutes
appearances. Rumours surfaced that Ngassa was not happy at Azam and wanted to
return to Yanga. In a semi-final clash with AS Vita Club, Ngassa came from the
bench to score the winning goal. An emotional overburdened Ngassa went too far
with his celebration and kissed the Yanga badge. This angered the Azam
management. It was reported that Azam management instructed Stewart Hall not to
ever field him again till his contract expires or a another club buys out his
contract.
Stewart Hall went against that order and fielded him in the
final clash with Yanga. Azam lost 2-0, the management angered by Stewart Hall
disobedience terminated his contract.
YANGA FRUSTRATED
BY NGASSA LOAN MOVE TO SIMBA
Azam had sworn Ngassa would never play for the club again despite
his contract. Yanga were sure of recruiting him back. A few days later, they
were stunned on learning he had been loaned out to Simba. It was a cunning move
by Azam, they manage to frustrate both Yanga and Simba, the old firms of
Tanzanian football. Ngassa was never going to be at ease at Simba, they would
always be doubt about his commitment
while Yanga felt it was an ultimate slap on the face, an insult to them by
loaning out ‘their player’ to arch-rivals,Simba.
YANGA TRIUMPH
AND THE WICKED LIBOLO HUMOUR
Simba had been humiliated by Angolan side, Recreatitivo do
Libolo by a 5-0 aggregate in CAF Champions league,the wicked libolo humour became the talk of the
town. Yanga hosted Azam in a top of the table clash within the same period.
Yanga fans, buoyed by their club top form, came out in large numbers, more than
thirty nine thousands cheered Yanga to a 2-0 victory. The offensively loaded
libolo humour was now extended to Azam.
AZAM SEEN AS A
SIMBA PROXY
Being led and bankrolled by a former Simba chairman, Azam is
widely seen as a simba proxy despite the recent tense matches between the two.
In many quarters it is widely believed that most Azam officials are Simba
henchmen. Their chairman past association with Simba will forever leave
suspicions that they are nothing but Simba sympathizers
A TALE OF TWO
BILLIONAIRES
Azam is bankrolled by Bakhressa group of companies led by
Said Bakhressa,a millionaire in any currency. On the other hand Yanga is currently
being cushioned from hard times by Yusuph Manji, a millionaire in his own
right. The two are used to multi-million projects so what they dangle at Azam
and Yanga are nothing but just crumbles out of their vast fortunes.
While Bakhressa is about to complete Azam own stadium, The
Chamazi complex, Manji as the chairman proclaimed Yanga’s intention of building
a 40,000-seat ultra-modern stadium. Perhaps as we say in Bongoland, hakuna
anayetaka kufunikwa as both are passionately committed to their clubs ambitions.
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