Simba receive massive boost
Simba SC defender Method Mwinjali (down) during a training session in Zanzibar yesterday. The Zimbabwean has been passed fit to face Young Africans in the Vodacom Premier League match on Saturday. PHOTO | DORIS MALIYAGA
What you need to know:
- It was feared Mwanjali would miss the anxiously awaited match, which promises to be yet another feisty encounter between the country’s football heavyweights at the National Stadium.
- There was no sign of any discomfort and the Zimbabwean, one of the Msimbazi Street team’s key players, is thought to have come through yesterday’s training session unscathed.
Unguja. Simba have received a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s clash against their archrivals Young Africans with the return of Zimbabwean defender Method Mwanjali to full training.
It was feared Mwanjali would miss the anxiously awaited match, which promises to be yet another feisty encounter between the country’s football heavyweights at the National Stadium.
There was no sign of any discomfort and the Zimbabwean, one of the Msimbazi Street team’s key players, is thought to have come through yesterday’s training session unscathed.
Mwanjali has been out of action for over two weeks after sustaining a knee injury during their Mainland Premier League match against Tanzania Prisons, and his absence has been hard for coach Joseph Omog to cover.
“It’s good news for everyone that he is back in the squad but we need to take it one step at a time and see how he goes,” the club’s physician Yassin Gembe, said.
“He can’t wait to be back in action now,” Gembe added, smiling broadly.
For his part, Mwanjali voiced optimism that he would feature for the Msimbazi Reds in Saturday’s showdown.
“I am happy that I am fit again after a knee injury which has kept me out of action for two or so weeks,” the soft-spoken player said.
But the former Mainland champions, who have been camping in Zanzibar since last week, will be unfortunate not to have on board winger Jamal Mnyate who is still nursing a knee injury.
Simba president Evance Aveva said he was very happy that Mwanjali was back in training.
“All my sensations are positive, not just because we lead the table but for the resources we have at our disposal,” said Aveva.
“Mwanjali is back, that is the main thing. He is short of training sessions and it’s impossible that he is 100 per cent, but it’s a guarantee for us that he is with us again,” he added.
The club boss said he was optimistic Omog’s men will give their supporters to smile about on Saturday- a convincing win against Yanga.
Simba are at the summit of the league table with 51 points, two ahead of their nearest challengers and defending champions Yanga.
Yanga, on the other hand, are camping at Kimbiji, Kigamboni on the outskirts of the city.
