Simba SC coach Fadlu Davids has downplayed the suggestions that the match against Young Africans is a revenge match for his side ahead of the much-anticipated blockbuster clash in the Kariakoo derby at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday (16:00). 

The South African mentor lost his first derby back in August after his charges succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Miguel Gamondi’s side in the semifinals of the community shield, which was eventually won by Yanga with a dominant 4-1 win over Azam FC. 

Now, the stakes are even higher in what is a top-of-the-table affair, with Davids’ men currently in third place with 13 points after five matches played, while the defending champions Young Africans are in fifth place – a point and a game shy of their arch-rivals. 

However, the former Orlando Pirates co-coach is keen to maintain his team’s unbeaten run in the NBC Tanzanian Premier League, as he looks to draw inspiration from the experience accumulated in the two sides’ last meeting. 

“I think the Community Shield prepared us and prepared our players to tick that box, to be able to experience a derby of that magnitude, to experience the dynamics of the derby so it helps us, it doesn’t prepare us fully, ” Davids told the club’s media team. 

The 43-year-old tactician insists the latest installment of the curtain raiser in Tanzanian football is not a grudge match, despite admitting that the defeat two months back wounded the team, and now they relish the opportunity to claim maximum points over their rivals. 

“But it helps having experienced and played it before, suffering the defeat in that first derby was extremely painful for the club, for the players, for the supporters and we don’t use this match as a revenge match, ” asserted Davids. 

“We use the match as part of our process to be able to improve. We have improved as a team since the derby and we will continue to improve, it’s another match where there are three points at stake. 

“But three points against your direct rival, that makes it much more significant, and we’ll be fully prepared for the match.”

Simba have won just one of the last five league meetings between the two giants, with their last victory dating back to April 2023, before they suffered back-to-back defeats including an embarrassing 5-1 thrashing in November last year. 

It remains to be seen who will claim the Kariakoo Derby bragging rights between the two Dar es Salaam-based powerhouses, with Davids eager to topple Yanga, who have won the last three league titles in Tanzania.