Football
Exclusive: ‘Yanga SC Have Been Consistent,’ Says Ex Simba SC Star Larry Bwalya
Former Simba SC star Larry Bwalya credits Yanga SC’s consistency and squad cohesion for their dominance in Tanzania’s Kariakoo derby and shares his insights on the Tanzanian league's progress.
Image Credits: Simba Media
Former Simba SC midfielder Larry Bwalya has weighed in on the Kariakoo derby that has seen Young Africans (Yanga SC) dominate the fixture in the last four meetings.
Yanga are on a four match winning run against Simba in Tanzania’s most fierce derby, one of the victories includes a 5-1 bashing on November 5 last year.
Despite leading this season’s league table with 25 points, one point ahead of second-placed Yanga, Simba's supporters are disheartened by their team's loss to their rivals earlier in the campaign.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Bwalya discussed the derby, his views on the Tanzanian league compared to the Zambian league, and Zambia’s upcoming AFCON game against Ivory Coast.
YANGA HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
Bwalya, who joined Simba in 2020, has noted that Yanga's success is largely due to their cohesive squad of players who grasp the significance of the derby.
“I think Yanga has been in good form, the team has been so consistent, and they have kept their players for a long time. They know the importance of the derby,” he said.
Aside from retaining most of their players, Yanga boosted their squad with the signing of Clatous Chama, whom they wrestled away from Simba at the start of the season.
Bwalya said his former team still has good players but their roster is composed of players who are still learning the importance of the Kariakoo derby.
If you look at Simba, they have good players but I think the team is new and they are still learning about the derby so I think when Simba keeps the players and they bond more, they will start dominating the derby.
Larry Bwalya
TANZANIAN LEAGUE HAS LEVELED UP
Bwalya, who has returned to Zambia after his stint in Tanzania and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa, also commended the improvements in the Tanzanian league.
Since leaving Simba in 2022, he has turned up for PSL sides AmaZulu and Sekhukhune United before returning home to Napsa Stars.
Image Credits: Simba Media
“The time I was going to Tanzania in 2020, the Zambian League was much higher than the Tanzanian league, but the TFF [Tanzania Football Federation] has put a lot of effort into improving their league. Football is about money, Tanzanians are pumping in a lot of resources in their league,” he said.
CHIPOLOPOLO MUST WIN
Bwalya is not part of the 24 – member Zambia squad that will face Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier this month, but he has Avram Grant’s team to do well.
Zambia will host Ivory Coast at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Friday, before travelling to face Sierra Leone in Monrovia, Liberia.
“Zambia still have a chance to qualify, I think the most important game is the one against Ivory Coast. It is a must win for us to qualify, we just have to win at home at all costs,” Bwalya said.
Zambia is second in their qualifying group with seven points, two behind leaders Ivory Coast while Sierra Leone and Chad are on four and two points respectively.
Mathews is an experienced public relations practitioner, journalist, and photographer. He began his career as a sports reporter at the Zambia Daily Mail, one of the country's leading publications.