Young Africans sign Sh5.5bn deal for 12-storey commercial building in Kariakoo

Tanzanian football club Young Africans (Yanga) has signed a Sh5.5 billion contract with Chinese construction company Group Six International for the development of a 12-storey commercial building at the junction of Mafia and Nyamwezi streets in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam.

Yanga president Hersi Said said the project is expected to be completed within 12 months, with the club seeking to turn the long-standing property into a major source of commercial revenue. "The project will take one year, and the building will have 12 floors. It is a Sh5.5 billion project," Hersi said at the contract signing ceremony.

Yanga has partnered with Azania Bank as financial partner for the development, an arrangement expected to support the club as it seeks to expand its income sources beyond football. The deal follows a tender process conducted by Yanga to identify a qualified contractor, with the club inviting construction companies to bid for the project in August.

The property holds a special place in Yanga's history: the club acquired it in 1964 after raising money through a friendly match against Kenya's Abaluhya, now known as AFC Leopards, which reportedly generated Sh13,000. For decades the property was used to accommodate various occupants before the club opted to redevelop it to maximise its commercial value.

The Kariakoo project could provide Yanga with another significant commercial asset because of the property's location in one of Dar es Salaam's busiest business districts. At its 2025 annual general meeting, the club also outlined plans to develop a stadium at Jangwani.

With completion targeted within 12 months, the immediate challenge will be for Group Six International to deliver the building within the agreed timeframe and for Yanga to ensure the completed property generates the returns expected from the investment.