Yanga paint Dar es Salaam yellow in brilliant trophy parade

• Yanga have won the Tanzanian Premier League title for the first time in four years
• With one match to go, they lead the standings with nine points
• They have won their 28^th league title

Newly crowned Tanzania Premier League champions Young Africans (Yanga) brought the streets of Dar es Salaam to a standstill over the weekend as they engaged in a trophy parade, celebrating their new success with their fans.

Yanga arrived in Dar es Salaam from Mbeya, where they were handed their title and immediately set off on a trophy parade to celebrate with their fans.

Players, coaches and officials snaked through the streets in an open bus with Wanajangwani coming out in their numbers to celebrate Yanga’s league conquest and their 28^th overall.

This is the first time in four years that Yanga were winning the title and what made it sweetest was the fact that they did it after playing second fiddle to their arch rivals Simba.

Yanga fans welcome their team to Dar es Salaam. PHOTO/Yanga

Yanga coach Nasreddine Nabi was clearly elated with the reception that his team got on the streets opf the capital and said he had never seen anything like that before.

“In my football career since I started coaching I have never witnessed such a huge fan base as it happened yesterday I have built a new history,” the tactician said.

“I thank all Yanga fans, fans and officials for the great co-operation we have shown and the happiness of many football-loving citizens. We still have a long way to go and I need more co-operation.” he says.

Double dreams remain alive

Yanga captain Bakari Mwamnyeto thanked all Yanga fans for their warm welcome and expects more from them towards the Azam Federation Cup (ASFC) final where they hope to complete a double.

“The reception that the fans gave us has given me a whole new picture. I have witnessed many fans but with yesterday’s crowd in my life I have never witnessed it and I pray to God to give us solidarity in our journey,” the defender stated.

Yanga fans come out to celebrate their trophy. PHOTO/Yanga

Yanga won the league title convincingly and with four matches to go, they had already sealed their title mathematically. Fans turned out in their numbers despite the team drawing 1-1 with Mbeya City on Saturday.

Currently with one match to go, Yanga have a nine-point lead over second placed Simba SC. They play their final match of the season against Mtibwa Sugar on Wednesday.

Trophy parades are not very common in Africa, with this being a tradition mostly done by European clubs. There are very few clubs in Africa that have convincingly done Trophy parades and Yanga on Sunday demonstrated that they are one of the biggest in the continent.

With celebrations done, they will now focus on playing Azam FC in the Cup final and are also looking towards their return to the CAF Champions League next season.