Yanga held, Simba eye win
What you need to know:
- Young Africans’ smooth run in the Mainland Premier League became a little bumpy yesterday when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Singida United.
Dar es Salaam. Young Africans’ smooth run in the Mainland Premier League became a little bumpy yesterday when they were forced to a 1-1 draw by Singida United.
The draw means Yanga remain second in the 16-team league table with 47 points from 22 games, five points adrift of leaders Simba.
Simba, gunning for their first league title in five years, go head-to-head with Mbeya City at the National Stadium this afternoon.
Yanga, who parted ways with Zambian coach George Lwandamina on Tuesday, were not at their best against Singida United yesterday
Singida, coached by former Yanga coach Hans van der Pluijm, seemed set to hand Yanga their second defeat of the season when they went one up two minutes into the game through Kambale Salita.
Salita beat goalkeeper Yuthe Rotand with a close range shot off a Kigi Makasi cross from the left flank.
After a wobbly start, Yanga weathered the storm after the goal.
They missed what could have been an equaliser two minutes later when Yusuph Mhilu’s strike narrowly missed target.
Another chance for them to level matters came in the 17th minute when striker Obrey Chirwa broke through, only to see his shot go wide.
They fluffed two more chances in the 25th and 34th minutes, the culprits being Ibrahim Ajibu and Chirwa.
They finally equalized in the 45th minute through defender Abdallah Shaibu, who connected home a well-taken corner from Ibrahim Ajibu with a superb header.
On resumption, both teams pressed upfront in turn in search of the match-winner but to no avail.
Meanwhile, the league continues today when in-form Simba face Mbeya City at the National Stadium.
A win for the Msimbazi Reds would see them go eight points clear at the helm of the league, which is now inching towards the home stretch.
Mbeya City are placed eighth with 26 points from 23 matches.
Simba assistant coach Masoud Djuma predicted a tough match, but remained optimistic that it will produce positive results for his team.
“All I care about is that the team keeps on winning,” Djuma said yesterday.
“We are still winning and we are growing in every game. Right now we are at the most exciting stage of the season but also the toughest part.” he added.
Our fans should expect positive results,” Djuma said.
