Anxiety as VPL giants Simba, Mtibwa clash

Dar es Salaam/Mwanza. After days of preparations, the stage is now set for the Community Shield match –the traditional curtain-raiser to the Mainland season – between in-form Simba and Mtibwa Sugar.

The glorified friendly between the Mainland Premier League champions and Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) winners kicks off at 4pm at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.

The CCM Kirumba showpiece will likely offer few clues as to the destination of the Premier League title.

This season’s top flight kicks off on August 22.

Mtibwa secured an opportunity to face Simba in the Community Shield game after winning the Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC).

The Morogoro-based outfit beat Singida United 3-2 in the final of the tournament also known as FA Cup, at Sheikh Amri Abeid memorial Stadium in Arusha earlier this year.

Simba, on the other hand, go into today’s clash as the reigning Mainland Premier League champions.

Famous referee Elly Sasii will handle what promises to be a nail-biting encounter, according to the ted will comTanzania Football Federation (TFF) information officer, Clifford Ndimbo.

Sasii, one of the best referees in the country, will be assisted by Ferdinand Chacha of Mwanza and Dar es Salaam’s Hellen Mduma.

Mduma was named the best assistant referee of the 2017/18 Premier League season.

Also on the list of match officials are Alfred Lwiza of Mwanza and Said Sould from Tanga, who will be match assessor and match commissioner.

This will be the sixth time for Simba, who battled to a 1-1 draw with Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in a friendly match on August 8 at the National Stadium, to seek honours in the Community Shield.

Mtibwa are playing in the event for the second time since its inception in 2001.

They won the Community Shield in 2009 after beating Young Africans.

In 2001, Yanga won it with a 2-1 win over their traditional foes Simba at the Uhuru Stadium.

They won it again in 2010 after beating the Msimbazi Reds 3-1 on penalties.

In 2013 and 2014, they won the Premier League curtain-raiser after beating Azam FC 1-0 and 3-0 respectively, before silencing the ice cream makers 8-7 on post penalties in 2015.

On paper, Simba, who bolstered their squad significantly during the transfer-window, will start as favourites in today’s match.

They will be looking to win the shield for the fourth time after doing so in 2011, when they beat Yanga 2-0. In 2012 and last year, they beat Azam and Yanga 3-2 and 5-4 (on penalties) respectively.

Mtibwa Sugar head coach, Zubeir Katwila said they are ready for the encounter and their target is to win the match.

Katwila said they know Simba players and their prowess. “I have committed players who fight from the start to the end, players are in top shape and ready to make history, it will be the tough match as we are playing against top team in the country, we have trained well and we are sure to win,” said Katwila.

Simba assistant coach, Masoud Djuma said their mission is to win the Community Shield despite the fact that they are playing against strong team.

“Our focus is to win the Shield which we won last season, it is our first match and we have to give out what we have trained for the past one and half month, players have to show their commitments,” said Djuma.