Excitement at fever pitch for Cup final

Dar es Salaam. Football fever is mounting high among soccer enthusiasts ahead of the FA Cup final between crowd pullers Simba and Mbao FC, which is just hours away, slightly over 24 if you read your paper this morning.

Tomorrow, at 4pm, the much anticipated showdown will be in full swing at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma. There will be no room for error for either side.

Simba are seeking their first major trophy in four years and first piece of silverware this season, while Mbao FC are bidding to win the competition for the first time in the club’s history.

The winner of what promises to be a nail-biting encounter will also earn a place in the African football- Confederation Cup- next season.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) assured soccer fans in Dodoma and neighbouring regions yesterday that all was set for the match, and anticipation is approaching the stratosphere.

And to give the final the visibility it deserves, it will be the only major match in Dodoma this weekend, and it will be beamed live by Azam TV.

Two days ago, football authorities in the region called off a friendly match between newly crowned Mainland champions Young Africans and Police FC, which was to take place at the Jamhuri Stadium yesterday.

The Dodoma Regional Football Association (Dorefa) secretary general, Hamis Kissoy said their decision to call off the match was due to the fact that they want to focus on preparations for the FA Cup final.

Mbao, who wound their Vodacom Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win over Yanga, have been in the capital since early this week, shaping up for the showdown.

The Msimbazi Reds, on the other hand, also signed off on a high as they thumped Mwadui FC of Shinyanga at the National Stadium.

But the victory was not enough to bar their traditional foes Yanga from clinching the trophy. The two teams tied on 68 points, but the Jangwani giants had superior goal difference.

This means Simba must win tomorrow’s final if they are to join their rivals in the continental competitions next year.

Simba left Dar es Salaam for Dodoma yesterday, raring to give their fans an ideal weekend gift, a win over Mbao.

“We have a strong team and if we are just to maintain our tempo, then we are certain of victory in Saturday’s match,” Simba head coach, Joseph Omog said yesterday.

Simba left Dar es Salaam for Dodoma yesterday, raring to give their fans an ideal weekend gift, a win over Mbao.

On paper, Omog’s men will start as favourites. But they should not expect a win on a silver platter as Mbao play their hearts out when up against the so called football heavyweights. Despite surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth, the Mwanza-based team gave a good account of themselves in their matches against Yanga, Simba and Azam FC.

In their second round match against Simba, the Msimbazi Reds survived a scare before notching up hard-fought 3-2 win at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.

It remains to be seen if they will really manage to shine at the expense of ambitious Simba tomorrow.