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The highly-billed clash between Tanzania’s biggest teams generated over Ksh23 million but the host team will earn less than half of it
Kenyan football authorities and fans will perhaps need to visit Tanzania for benchmarking purposes after the Kariakoo derby between Simba and Yanga raised over Ksh23 million last weekend.
According to figures released by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) on Thursday, the highly-billed clash, which Simba won 2-0 last Sunday, attracted 53,569 fans at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam with Tsh410,645,000 (Ksh23.7 million) raised.
The tickets were clustered into different categories with the VIP A which were going for Tsh30,000 (Ksh1,731) attracting 340 fans, VIP B which cost Tsh20,000 (Ksh1,154) being snapped up by 4,160 supporters while 2,004 opted for VIP C that went for Tsh15,000 (Ksh865).
There were two categories of tickets for the terraces, one going for Tsh10,000 (Ksh577), of which 10,372 supporters bought, while the lowest priced tickets of Tsh5,000 (Ksh288) were taken up by 36,693 fans.
However, out of the windfall, Simba, who were the home team got less than half, Wekundu wa Msimbazi receiving Tsh188,987, 181 (Ksh10.9 million) with the rest of the money going to other costs such as tax, stadia, local administration as well as TFF.
A large number of fans were expected during the clash which is one of Africa’s biggest derbies given the historical rivalry between the two teams who are Tanzania’s most successful sides.
The figure dwarfs what is normally raised in Kenya with the ‘Mashemeji’ derby between sworn rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia raising just under Ksh4 million the last time such figures were revealed in 2020.
It is, however, down to the low number of fans who turn up to watch local matches, with the said clash attracting 10,000 supporters three years ago, five times less than the Kariakoo derby figures.
There have been signs of an improvement, however, as witnessed in January when there were over 10,000 fans as Gor and Leopards played out a barren draw at Nyayo Stadium. Tickets sales is one of the major revenue generating avenues for clubs and Kenyan sides can alleviate their financial problems if their fans attended matches in large numbers as witnessed across the border.
During the clash, Kenya’s Joash Onyango played a key role in defence as Simba won courtesy of a first-minute goal from his centre-back partner Henock Baka before Kibu Denis Prosper scored the second with a thunderous strike from 25 yards out.
The victory saw Simba narrow the gap on their rivals to five points from 26 matches, staying second on the log with 63, while Yanga have 68.
Both teams have turned their focus to continental assignments with Simba set to host holders Wydad Athletic Club in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg on Saturday while Yanga visit Rivers United of Nigeria in the Confederation Cup the following day.
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