Kenya's SportPesa Cup Dominance 'Hurts' Tanzanian Pride

26th January 2019 - by Mutwiri Mutuota

Fans slam performance of their teams for not treating the tournament with the 'respect' it deserves ahead of Sharks, Bandari final

OH NO! Simba SC fans look on dejected after their team conceded a second goal to Bandari FC during their 2019 SportPesa Cup semi final at the Main National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam on Friday, January 25, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

As part of the dedicated service team that has been ferrying officials to and from venues assigned for the 2019 SportPesa Cup in Tanzania, the middle-aged man has endured a punishing shift for the past week or so
For an event held during working days, the turnout was impressive, illustrating their love for the game but apart from Wednesday, there has been little joy for the home nation that has been wonderful hosts for the third edition of the tournament
For now, bronze will be the biggest prize as Simba and Mbao play to succeed Singida who won the third-place play-off in Nakuru last year

DAR-ES-SALAAM, Tanzania- “This hurts. We put so much into organising this tournament but our teams once again did not take it with the seriousness it deserves,” Sam, a driver lamented as darkness covered the coastal city of Dar-es-Salaam on Friday.

As part of the dedicated service team that has been ferrying officials to and from venues assigned for the 2019 SportPesa Cup in Tanzania, the middle-aged man has endured a punishing shift for the past week or so.

His down time during that period has been following the gripping action unfold in the non-stop knockout football action that kicked off on Tuesday and climaxes on Sunday with two of the eight teams that started, Kariobangi Sharks FC taking on Bandari FC in the final.

Like many Tanzanians, Sam was convinced that one of the four teams from the largest nation in East Africa would lift the coveted trophy and end the Kenyan monopoly.

However, for the second time in three years, Dar will host an all-Kenyan final and for those in Bongo as the country is known, that cuts deep, so deep bearing in mind the football rivalry between the two countries started in 1926 when the first Gossage Cup (now Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup) was played.

“It appears our teams do not realise the benefits of winning this cup. Getting the chance of playing a team like Everton does not come every day.

“Our brothers from Kenya have given this tournament the respect it deserves and look at what it is doing to their country’s football,” Sam went on as he patiently through the chocking Dar traffic- known here as ‘foleni’.

“They do not realise people like us have sacrificed a lot for this tournament and the best reward for us would at least, having one of our teams in the final. Last time Everton came here, they played Gor from Kenya, now we will not even see them again this year,” he lamented.

“All the best to Sharks and Bandari, at least they have beaten the giants and shown us there is hope for smaller teams. Mbao also gave us reason to smile but we are disappointed,” the driver intoned as he backed his mini bus to drop his passengers before taking the 50km trip to where he lives to retire for the night.

What made his feelings- shared by many here in Tanzania- even more touching is they were delivered in flowing and fluent Swahili, the language they have mastered than more than any other nation on earth.

To understand the pain shooting through his veins, one needed to be at the precincts of the National Main Stadium- Tanzania’s signature sporting facility- after Friday’s semi finals of what has been the best SP Cup thus far.

Bandari eliminated the home nation’s biggest hope, Simba SC by coming from behind to secure a 2-1 victory before fellow SportPesa Premier League side Sharks outlasted Mbao 6-5 on post match penalties after their semi ended 0-0 in regulation time.

Two Tanzanian teams, league leaders Yanga SC (2-3) and Singida United FC (0-1) lost on the opening day of the competition to Sharks and Bandari before Simba and Mbao hit back for Tanzania on day two by sending Kenyan giants, AFC Leopards SC (1-2) and champions Gor Mahia FC (3-4 on penalties, 1-1) home.

“Our teams are jokers, the players are too relaxed. This time, they played their best but it is always the Kenyans. We should give this tournament to Kenyan teams until the day we are ready to compete,” Juma, the ice-cream man, complained.

“Look at them? Where is their pride?” he went on as the red Simba bus pulled out of the stadium following their defeat in the first semi.

Others in the stands had even more unsavoury comments to make since football passions running so deep in Tanzania.

For an event held during working days, the turnout was impressive, illustrating their love for the game but apart from Wednesday, there has been little joy for the home nation that has been wonderful hosts for the third edition of the tournament.

The sentiments on Friday contrast with those a week before when almost to a man, local fans were sure the trophy would be remaining in Tanzania.

“We welcome our brothers from Kenya but I wish to inform you that Mbao are a threat, leave alone Simba or Yanga. I’m sorry you will get nothing this time,” Tanzania Football Federation Technical Director, Salum Madadi quipped on Monday.

"I'm sure this time, the cup is ours and we are ready to host Everton again. No excuses, all our teams are coming with the top players and best squads," he added.

“This time around, we do not wish to be embarrassed, we want you to field the teams who believe in producing results. We want to see the cream of our teams from Singida United, Mbao FC, Yanga SC and Simba SC,” SportPesa Tanzania Director of Administration, Tarimba Abass had rallied.

However, after three days of intense SP Cup action, Tanzanian collective football pride has once again been wounded as their teams return to the drawing board to plot another assault on the title next year.

For now, bronze will be the biggest prize as Simba and Mbao play to succeed Singida who won the third-place play-off in Nakuru last year.

SP CUP 2019 SUMMARY

QUARTER FINAL RESULTS

Singida United FC 0 Bandari FC 1

Yanga SC 2 Kariobangi Sharks FC 3

Mbao FC 1 (4) Gor Mahia FC 1 (3)

Simba SC 2 AFC Leopards SC 1

SEMI FINAL RESULTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

Bandari FC 2 vs Simba SC 1

Kariobangi Sharks FC 0 (6) vs Mbao 0 (5)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27

2:00pm: 3rd place: Simba SC vs Mbao FC

4:15pm: Final: Bandari FC vs K. Sharks FC