The local top flight Coastal side Bandari FC and Tanzania Premier League giants Yanga FC have commenced negotiations that if materialise will see them enter into football partnership geared towards strategic engagement in various areas with the intention to professionalise the local sports industry.
The development was discussed when the Vice Chairman of Dockers and long serving football stakeholder Twaha Mbarak met with Young Africans SC Chairman Engineer Hersi Ally during the Azam Cup finals at Tanga stadium on Monday.
“As Bandari we continue to strive for excellence, it is fantastic to be able to learn from Yanga FC; we are looking to pick up all we can from a club who are arguably one of the best in the African continent as its management and performance is way above there courtesy of the vibrant Eng. Hersi who has made Yanga become a shining example of how proper organizational structure is healthy for a top side with ambition of continuously challenging for top honours in modern football. We aim to continue to share knowledge and experience, as well as building the relationship in terms of exposing our players and technical bench to the Yanga systems” he said
“Our engagement will revolve around club management, activities for fans, digital transformation, Marketing, sales, Economic control, and international development.With how Yanga is structured, it’s evident that they will continue to dominate the Tanzanian Premier League which has now rebranded to Ligi Ku Bara as they continue their asendency to the top of African Football.And if we emulate on them,we’ll follow suit and become continental heavyweights” he added
On and off the field, Tanzania’s oldest club looked like a pale shadow of the side that had won 27 league titles and had even fashioned a fearsome reputation on the continent.
They retained the Azam Federation Cup title after beating Azam FC 1-0 at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga.This is the second title for the Jangwani Street giants this season.
Yanga also won the NBC Premier League title besides clinching a silver medal in the CAF Confederation Cup on the away goals rule despite the 2-2 aggregates.
Engineer Hersi is believed to have orchestrated Yanga’s revival when he took over the reigns.
Fan or not, overhauling Yanga’s fortunes would not be a walk in the park, considering that the team barely even afforded to keep its best players. Taking stock of the problems faced by the troubled club in 2020 was the first port of call. He did so with a civil engineer’s precision
“We signed an agreement to produce kits for the club. It solved two issues—they got money, and it resolved the kit issue. We did a good launch. We understood that it’s not business if your partner is not doing well. So, we decided to do more for the club and signed players.
“The next thing we did was change the place they camped before games. We gave them a good hotel. We secured a contract for a proper training ground,” explains the revered engineer-cum-administrator.
“The club couldn’t pay salaries, accommodation and transport. Players were terminating their contracts. They travelled by bus to games,” Eng. Hersi recalls. It was unsustainable. The club was living on donations, and we had to call fans to hire transport, air tickets, and sign players. I happened to be the chairman of the Yanga Family, whose responsibility was to solicit funds,” he was further quoted
In May this year,Twaha-the former Football Kenya Federation vice-president was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Kenya Premier League side, Bandari FC.
In a letter written by the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director William K. Ruto,the club moved to tap the experience of the respected sports administrator and Mombasa businessman.
“In view of your vast experience in football administration both at the Coast region and at national level, I am convinced that you have the requisite skills, passion and expertise that will add value to the management of the club,” KPA MD Ruto wrote in the appointment offer.
He is dreaming big weeks after taking over. “The plan is to ensure that the team becomes a big competitor domestically and internationally. We want to ensure that Bandari FC competes in African championships while targeting special competitions between us and regional powerhouses like Yanga SC and Simba SC,” said Mbarak, adding that the strategy will ensure that the team is heard and popularised in Kenya and internationally.” noted Twaha
After parting ways with Antony ‘Modo’ Kimani who was with the team for over one year,Bandari is in the process of acquiring a new highly qualified tactician who will steer the team’s ambition from next season.
Among those whose services are being chased after include former national team Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi, current Tusker FC tactician Robert Matano and ex Kenyan International cum Kakamega Homeboyz and Ulinzi Stars gaffer Bernard Mwalala.
Temporarily,they are currently under the stewardship of a top Football Kenya Federation instructor Twahir Muhhidin who has guided the side before in the same capacity.
