The Union of Branches of Yanga Club members in Geita Region has declared their support for the statement made by the Club's Council of Elders, who instructed that the team must not be sent to play on June 15, 2025.
The members convened at the Yanga branch in Nyawilimilwa ward and agreed to stand with the elders and the national Yanga leadership in demanding answers regarding the postponement of the match.
The Coordinator of Yanga Branches in Geita Region, Rajab Mohamed, stated that Yanga members in Geita do not want the team to step onto the pitch if there is no clear explanation for the postponement of the March 8, 2025 match.
He said that match number 184, between Yanga as hosts and Simba—famously known as the Kariakoo Derby—should not be rescheduled without stakeholders in football being provided with an investigative report explaining why the match was postponed.
"This Yanga is not a team of leaders; it is a team of members. This is not a team to be casually run—it's a members' team, and the members hold all authority over this club," said Rajab.
He emphasized that the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) should not use force to resolve the controversy surrounding the match. Instead, it should conduct self-reflection and adopt an inclusive system to find a solution.
The Secretary of Yanga Branches in Geita Region, Edmund William, said that Yanga members in Geita continue to commend the club leadership and elders for maintaining their stance of not sending the team to play.
He stressed that this decision should continue in order to teach the league board a lesson about proper management of Tanzanian football—ensuring no single team is disadvantaged and that all teams benefit from the elected football leadership.
The spokesperson for the Yanga branch in Nyawilimilwa, Nkanga Malima, stated that the response from the league board regarding the issue of the postponed match is what will enable Yanga members to understand the fate of the game.
He said Yanga's intention is not to quarrel with football authorities in the country, but rather to see justice served and football played without controversies.
Yanga Club has announced its position that it will not play that match or any subsequent matches if the league board and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) do not take responsibility for what happened on March 8.
