Yanga trophy parade brings Dar es Salaam to a standstill

©Yanga

FOOTBALL Yanga trophy parade brings Dar es Salaam to a standstill

Festus Chuma 14:36 - 10.06.2023

Yanga were yesterday officially crowned the Tanzania Premier League title at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya.

Thousands of Green and Yellow-clad supporters lined the streets across different parts of Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam on Saturday afternoon to get a glimpse of Yanga as the champions paraded their league trophy in an open-top bus parade.

Yanga proved why they were the undisputed kings of Tanzanian football when they won the 29th league title adding to the Community Shield, which they had earlier won.

The Timu Ya Wananchi was coronated on Friday afternoon after a  2-0 victory over Tanzania Prisons in the closing match of the 2022/2023 season.

Dubbed the Wananchi Parade, thousands of adoring Yanga supporters lined up the streets on either side.

The bus departed from the Julius Nyerere International Airport in the morning hours after the team's arrival from Mbeya before snaking through the streets of the Tanzania capital.

It is expected to make stops in various parts of the city, including Msimbazi, where rivals Simba SC have their main office.

The final stop for the bus will be at Jangwani, where formal proceedings with speeches from Yanga officials led by President Hersi Said, captain Bakari Mwamnyeto and other officials are expected.

Before the team's departure at the airport, Yanga assistant coach Cedric Kaze told reporters, "We faced strong opposition in the league, and our players deserve compliments for achieving top honors. We did it last season, and we have to do it again the next season."

Yanga is likely to add a third title as on Monday, they will face Azam FC in the Azam Federation Cup final at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.

As the Tanzania Premier League winners, Yanga has pocketed Tanzania Shillings 100 million (Ksh 5.8m)  from the league's main sponsor, NBC Bank, as well as a Tanzania Shillings 500 million (Ksh 29.2m) bonus from Azam Media as per the contract signed with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).

And while Yanga fans were celebrating at the top, Polisi Tanzania and Ruvu Shooting fans were shedding tears after their teams were relegated.