Respect untainted with latesthome ‘derbies',pundits not quiteflattered

-winning their duels against the weaker sides of their respective tourneys, apart from themselves.

Pundits are aware that outside Vipers SC the next weak side in this season's CAF Champions League Group C is Simba SC unless it manages a miracle of sorts, beating Guinea's Horoya AC in Dar es Salaam.

Their next-street rivals, Young Africans SC, alias Yanga, are in the same position, not altogether assuring, of this.

Simba SC was on duty to see off Vipers SC to have an outside chance of progressing, just as Yanga had to do the same for AS Real Bamako in the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup, where Yanga’s score line was more convincing.

It has two good wins to its credit both on home ground, while losing significantly on an away tie, but obtained a point in the other away ties.

It is in a more comfortable position compared to next-street rivals, who all the same have tougher opposition to handle, and thus their ability to do so is slippery.

The two matches brought up added enthusiasm on the fans’ part, who has started to despair after the first-round wallop on both sides, at Raja Club Athletic and then a last-minute hosts’ equalizer at AS Real Bamako.

The next round of derbies was flattering for Yanga and soul-breaking for Simba SC, as Yanga won 3-1 against DR Congo's TP Mazembe whereas Simba SC suffered a 3-0 loss to Morocco's Raja Club Athletic.

Then they invited teams from outside and the results were respectable, as both sides won, confidently enough.

If there is one impression that can be made out is that both sides are good enough at the Group Stage of the tournament as both can count on at least one team which is decidedly weaker than themselves.

So far Simba SC has Vipers SC as the weaker side to it and will face a climb to demonstrate that Horoya AC is also weak enough to stand aside.

This will be determined when the side visits 'Estadio Lupaso' not far from here, in the penultimate Group Stage game before the formality of a return match with the hard-hitting Moroccan side, the group leaders whose chances are fixed.

In that case, the series of ‘derbies’ has only one substantial match being awaited concerning each side, an away match for Yanga at TP Mazembe, and a home game for Simba SC with Horoya AC.

That means the two North African teams, one in either group are top of the group by far and away and non-assailed, while the city rivals battle for second positions. Yanga seems to be slightly more assured, here.

That is not surprising as Yanga started in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League and was relegated to the 2022/23 CAF Confederation Cup while their next-street rivals remained in the upper-tier tournament.

Fans were exchanging diatribes as to who is in a more comfortable position, with Simba SC fans satisfied that their take is $1.5m for playing at the Group Stage of the upper tournament, while Yanga earns 0.8m dollars for their Group Stage appearance (or something of similar margin at least).

That is commerce but Simba SC has greater exposure to unhappiness in its Group Stage run.

The other issue tormenting fans and pundits, in particular, is whether indeed either side ought to enter the quarterfinals in the state they find themselves, which is excellent for prestige and for commerce but as the teams are, they risk plenty of suffering in that stage.

Scenarios like the walloping by Yanga of TP Mazembe beckon when a weak side penetrates the next stage, earning the prestige, the cash, and for some fans, a day with pills for a missed heart attack. Plenty of trouble.

What was a bit surprising was to hear a section of Yanga fans already talking about lifting the CAF Confederation Cup, a sentiment that was difficult to fathom but appears to have been generated by the wide-margin win over the once-famed Congolese side.

On another side at least it seems to be a prolongation of the Jangwani Street outfit's dominance over the local league, and with the recollection of the late equalizer by AS Real Bamako, think they can win all the way. Except for US Monastir.

That scenario looks quite realistic for Yanga but merely to reach the quarterfinals, for them, it is a bit more realistic, though not assured, to win at TP Mazembe.

Those who wish to prolong their home game against the Congolese side have points it has been repeated with Vipers SC on their rivals’ side, but there are examples where the local side overturns the table as with Simba SC vs Kaizer Chiefs earlier.

That would end all expectations as only a clear win over Horoya AC, TP Mazembe can do.

Still, some preliminary conclusions are being drawn as to where the local sides find themselves in continental tourneys and especially the Msimbazi Street side as it survived in the top tier tournament.

There is no doubt that the side is not as inspiring as the one toppling Kaiser Chiefs in the return game at ‘Estadio Lupaso'.

The answer is acute investments but as it is seen with other top clubs, it is not assured.