Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has put the Kariakoo Derby on the same level as the Soweto Derby, if not bigger.
The rivalry between Simba SC and Young Africans SC that started in 1935 will be renewed at Uhuru Stadium in Tanzania this evening. This fixture comes at the right time as both teams are in top form having won all opening six league matches and are level on points.
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It’s one of the big games on the African continent and it attracts a lot of interest, but what makes it more interesting is that the two sides will be led by two South African coaches something that has never happened before.
Barker’s Simba have gone unbeaten in 30 league matches, including a 16-match winning streak, while Yanga are 12 matches unbeaten.
Barker placed the Kariakoo Derby on the same level as the Soweto Derby and went as far as saying the Salaam Derby might be even bigger than the one between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
“These types of matches are exactly what we want to be playing for, children dreaming of playing the derby one day, it’s no difference for coaches,” Barker told the media.
“That’s the reason why I came to Tanzania to coach Simba Sports Club because it’s a club that is challenging to win league titles; it’s a team that is challenging on the continent.
“Obviously when you play against your arch rivals like tomorrow in my opinion and maybe people back home in South Africa may not agree but I believe that this derby is as big as, if not bigger than, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates; this is a massive derby on the continent and it’s a privilege as a coach to be part of this.
“Obviously, it adds a little bit of extra spice that a lot of the coaching staff are South Africans same as Yanga; the coaching staff and technical team are from South Africa, so I think that adds an extra element to the match but it’s absolutely a privilege to be part of this tomorrow.”