By JAMES WAINDI in Dar es Salaam

Yanga are the champions of the 36th edition of the Cecafa Club Championships after pipping arch rivals Simba 1-0 in a thrilling derby at a packed 60,000-seater National Stadium.

Police presence at the stadium was heavy and paramedics had a hectic day, helping casualties, signs of a typical city derby, which was tense to the final whistle.

Ghanaian Kenneth Asamoah scored the goal in the 108th minute with his first touch of the ball after he replaced Jerry Tegete. He leaped to head in Mohamed Simba’s cross from the left to light up the fully packed stadium, immediately causing some fans seated on the left of the VIP area, normally reserved for Simba fans, to start walking out.

Yanga players celebrate after winning the Cecafa Club Championships final at Tanzania National Stadium on Sunday. Photo: Boniface Okendo/Standard

The result gives Yanga a dream return to regional football after they were banned three years ago and more so, a memorable win over local rivals Simba.

They have now won the regional title four times, two shy of Simba who have won it a record six times. Previously, the two sides had met twice in the finals of the regional competition, with each winning once, Yanga has now improved their head to head record.

Yanga coach Sam Timbe also continued with his impressive record of not losing a final. He won the 2009 title with Rwanda’s side Atraco in 2009 when the event was held in Khartoum, Sudan.

Simba who are bitter after losing the Tanzanian title to their arch rivals started the match more aggressively, with striker Hassan Mgosi shooting narrowly wide just two minutes into the match.

Mgosi came close in the 10th minute, as Simba raided the Yanga defence at will and they almost broke the deadlock in the 12th minute through Shija Makina, but Yanga’s Nadir Haroub cleared his shot off the line after custodian Yaw Berko had spilled Ulimboka Mwakingwe’s cross.

Yanga’s first attempt on Simba’s goal was in the 16th minute, but Davis Mwape’s strike did not trouble Juma Kaseja who had been a spectator from the first whistle.

Ugandan Hasimi Kiiza scored in the 76th minute with a diving header but Somalia referee Wiish Yabarow ruled it out for offside to the disappointment of the Yanga fans who had deafened the stadium in celebration.

In the 85th minute, Nurdin Bakari seemed to have brought down Simba’s Amir Mafta in the Yanga box, but was lucky as referee Yabarow gave a corner kick instead of pointing to the spot.

Meanwhile, two times regional club champions El Merreikh of Sudan received a third place consolation in this year’s competition after they beat Ethiopia champions St Georges 2-0 in a tie that kicked off early afternoon on Sunday.

Both goals came in the second half. Substitute Jonas Sakawa made an immediate impact after being introduced into the match.