Meddie Kagere Dar Derby Heroics Catapults Striker To Simba Folklore

18th February 2019 - by Mutwiri Mutuota

Ex-Gor Mahia FC super star second half header gave Tanzanian champions priceless 1-0 victory over fiercest rivals Yanga SC at the National Main Stadium last Saturday

Simba SC striker, Meddie Kagere, poses at a photo shoot ahead of the 2019 SportPesa Cup tournament in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

The man they affectionately call 'MK14'or 'Terminator Kagere'- striker Meddie Kagere- once again popped up with the winning goal to settle the fierce Dar derby in favour of Simba in a 1-0 victory over the old enemy Yanga SC at the National Main Stadium in front of a capacity-packed stadium last Saturday
Kagere, who admitted in an interview with www.capitalfm.co.ke last week he left Gor for the love Simba showered on him has repaid the affection in full, with the Ugandan born Rwandese forward also producing the priceless winner when Simba humbled the mighty record African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 in a crucial CAF Champions League group stage tie at the same stadium last Tuesday (February 12)
The result left Yanga still at the summit of the TPL on 58 points from 24 matches in their quest to dethrone their arch rivals who have 39 from 16 games

NAIROBI, Kenya- He simply cannot stop scoring crucial goals and earning the undying adulation of Dar-es-Salaam football giants, Simba SC passionate supporters.

The man they affectionately call 'MK14'or 'Terminator Kagere'- striker Meddie Kagere- once again popped up with the winning goal to settle the fierce Dar derby in favour of Simba in a 1-0 victory over the old enemy Yanga SC at the National Main Stadium in front of a capacity-packed stadium last Saturday.

The former SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC super star headed in past Yanga keeper Ramadhan Kabwili on 71 minutes after being set up by captain John Raphael Bocco to send the supporters of Wekundu wa Msimbazi (Msimbazi Reds) into frenzy and after the final whistle, fans of Tanzania Premier League leaders Yanga sunk into despair.

Kagere, who admitted in an interview with www.capitalfm.co.ke last week he left Gor for the love Simba showered on him has repaid the affection in full, with the Ugandan born Rwandese forward also producing the priceless winner when Simba humbled the mighty record African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 in a crucial CAF Champions League group stage tie at the same stadium last Tuesday (February 12).

"The fans here have a lot of passion and even if you do something small, they will always remember that. Here is not like Nairobi where I used to move freely in the streets and no one stops me.

"In Dar, if I am going to town for a 10 minute errand, it can take two or three hours. The fans really show they appreciate you and you really feel loved.

His signature celebration where he covers his right eye is fast catching on as the latest fad in Dar, with social media users pouring to blogging sites to share images imitating the striker's pose.

Kagere moved to Simba following last year's SportPesa Cup in Nakuru where he played a starring role, scoring and setting the other for countrymen Jacques Tuyisenge when the Kenyan giants ran out 2-0 winners to retain the trophy.

The SportPesa Cup record goal scorer with eight from nine games however, could not inspire Simba to lift the USD30,000 knockout tournament crown for the first time last month when his team bowed out at the semi finals after losing 1-2 to Kenyan outfit Bandari in a contest Kagere opened the scoring moments before the break.

Better record

"It was painful not to win, but life has to go on. There was so much around our campaign because we had a Cup to play in Zanzibar, we had the league to play and then we had the Champions League matches. It was difficult for us to maintain one squad because the coach had to do a lot of rotation.

Meddie Kagere (C) then of Kenya’s Gor Mahia vies for the ball with Evandro Goebel (L) of England’s Hull city during their friendly match at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on May 13, 2018. Hull City defeated Gor Mahia 4-3 on post-match penalties. PHOTO/AFP

"Winning the SportPesa Cup would have been good because we would have the chance of playing an English Premier League side. But I have already achieved that though I didn’t travel to the UK, but all is okay. There will always be a next time," the striker rued.

"Once you deliver in football the rest is left to the fans. If you do what they want you are their friend," the man who was nicknamed 'Luanda Magere' in the green of Gor after the mythical Luo grand warrior told Capital.

During the 102nd meeting of the Dar cross town rivals since 1965, Ugandan Emmanuel Okwi should have opened the scoring in the 58th when his shot from range smacked the woodwork.

That proved to be temporary reprieve for the record 27-time Tanzanian champions in a frenetic contest that produced five yellow cards- three going to Yanga.

The result left Yanga still at the summit of the TPL on 58 points from 24 matches in their quest to dethrone their arch rivals who have 39 from 16 games.

Despite the bitter loss, Yanga still boast of a better head to head record with 36 wins against 31 for Simba with 30 in draws in the league.

Line ups

Yanga XI: Ramadhan Kabwili (G.K), Paul Godfrey, Michael Gadiel (77’ Matheo Anthony), Andrew Vicent, Kelvin Yondan, Abdallah Haji, Feisal Salum, Papy Tshishimbi, Heritier Makambo, Amissi Tambwe (46’ Mrisho Ngasa), Ibrahim Ajibu (61’ Issa ‘Banka’ Mohamed)

Subs Not Used: Klaus Kindoki, Said Juma, Juma Abdul, Haruna Moshi

Simba XI: Aishi Manula (G.K), Zana Coulibaly, Mohamed Hussein, Murshid Juuko, Pascal Wawa, James Kotei, Clatous Chama (52’ Hassan Dilunga), Jonas Mkude, John Bocco, Meddie Kagere (90’ Harunah Niyonzima), Emmanuel Okwi

Subs Not Used: Deogratias Munishi (G.K), Nicholas Gyan, Yusufu Mlipili, Mzamiru Yassin, Rashid Juma