When Yanga’s rout of TP Mazembe is a cultural, not just sporting event

For the first time, the rather rambling slogan “wananchi” seemed to be universally uttered among various sections of the city dwellers and possibly elsewhere, whereas it used to be heard among the common folk or die-hard street people. This time it was quite obvious that it was valid.

Likewise, it’s difficult to recall another weekend when the city’s two giants faced foreign sides with exactly the opposite score, Simba SC 0-3 and Yanga 3-1, and then there was a reward of 5m/- for each goal and Jangwani Street Club sacked 15m/- while Msimbazi Street had little to show for that match, at least as far as claiming anything in that presidential treasury goes.

It’s hard to imagine how egos can be temporarily boosted so much, Yanga basked in glory while 2022/23 CAF Champions League group stage contenders Simba SC cowered in shame.

It didn’t matter that the forthcoming games were hardly comparable, as one team played against one of the most impressive teams on the continent, while the other met a team that is but a shadow of its former self.

What ignited the hilarity was TP Mazembe’s still stunning image and a bit of the delusion that this is the side that the local club champions had taken good care of, even though the Congolese side of Vipers SC, the Ugandan military quasi- team, was eliminated. Page.

The Simba SC leadership remembered that aspect, but heads didn’t cool down.

Even more surprising was how recognized members of the social elite reminded each other who was the first membership cardholder of the Jangwani Street side, fictitiously or otherwise identified with the founding president.

What appears to have happened is that around 1970, when plans were being discussed to convert the Jangwani Street site into a club residence and training ground, new club membership cards were issued.

Otherwise, it is difficult to see how Mwalimu Nyerere received card number 1 and Sheikh Karume card number 2.

What was a group match at an unprestigious international tournament, the second division of the real championship, became something of a rebirth for the yanga social brotherhood.

It’s hard to imagine how the fraternity would have celebrated if they had won the championship, even the second division if not the first, since it was the nec plus ultra, the mother of all celebrations so to speak.

The fact that the side lost 2-0 away to Tunisia’s US Monastir in their first group game was thus completely and indelibly annulled, so quickly forgotten that one might almost think it never happened, but the danger is there a sharp recollection of it soon.

Psychologically, what was fascinating about TP Mazembe’s Yanga defeat was less the goal-line and more the celebration of their closest street rivals Simba SC’s bad luck in the second of the continental derbies.

It was the pain of their arch-rivals that sweetened their victory over the once famous Congolese side and all circumstances were put on hold.

And when they failed in the run-up to the 2022/23 CAF Champions League group stage, it was like they just got their sweet revenge…!

This was a short-lived celebration as the club’s start to the group stage has not been very inspirational and there is a risk that they could slack off in the next game or two due to excessive celebration.

But despite losing 2-0 to US Monastir, the 3-0 win over TP Mazembe shows Yanga have staying power when missing out on the services of now-paused Bernard Morrison and still suffering from the loss of arch-midfielder Faisal Salum .

It’s probably true to say that between resurgence and dispersal, the team’s odds are more or less unpredictable.

If anything, the result at the Benjamin Mkapa Arena should give the Premier League leaders the confidence they need going into the next round of the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup and bolster their feeling as aspiring champions defending their Premier League title.

It would have been fantastic if matters could be ended there, but there is a shadow lurking in the fact that the team failed in the first tier tournament and all that acrobatics is being shown in a second tier tournament versus their arch-rivals.

At least based on TP Mazembe’s result, they have a better chance of entering the next stage, although there’s still the possibility of a short-lived hooray if other teams over-study the last game and come up with the right answers.

TP Mazembe didn’t feel he had to as Yanga had just come back from the 2-0 defeat by US Monastir.