Simba , Mtibwa Sugar face off in crucial league encounter

Dar es Salaam. One of the football giants in the country, Simba SC, today play a crucial match in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League against Mtibwa Sugar FC at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.

The encounter, which will kick off at 6pm, is very crucial for both teams as Simba will need victory in order to continue chasing silverware and fighting for the CAF Champions League qualification against Azam FC and Yanga while Mtibwa Sugar will battle it out to avoid being in the relegation zone.

Simba are now third in the league log with 47 points and victory will reduce the point gap against Azam FC to four.

Azam FC are second with 54 points while Yanga are at the top with 62 points.

Arithmetically, Simba, who have eight matches remaining in the league, can collect up to 71 points if they are to win all.

Despite having a chance to finish at the top, Simba need to ‘pray’ for poor results for the defending champions, Yanga, and second-placed Azam FC.

So far Simba are 15 points behind Yanga and seven points behind Azam FC.

If Simba win two matches, they will reduce the gap to nine points against Yanga and one point against Azam FC.

However, Simba should not expect an easy ride in today’s encounter against Mtibwa Sugar who are fighting to avoid the demotion zone.

Mtibwa Sugar are placed at the bottom of the league standings with 17 points from 23 matches and victory will make them collect 20 points, three minus 15th and 14th placed Tabora United and Mashujaa FC respectively.

Simba assistant head coach Selemani Matola said they target to win the match in order to chase the top position.

He said they are optimistic about coming out with a good result in the match despite Mtibwa Sugar being one of the tough teams in the league. “We need to record the best result that will place the team in a good position to chase the title. We have to concentrate on the league in which we are only competing.

“The league matches are very important as we aim to do our best for the title win,” said Matola.

He said his players are in good shape for the match that is expected to be tough. “It is not going to be an easy game because each team will be targeting victory in order to improve their chances in the league standings. We want to prove our worth in the competition,” he said.

Mtibwa head coach Zubeiry Katwila, said they have prepared well to face Simba in the league encounter and hope to do their best.

Katwila said all of his players are in high morale and ready to face the Msimbazi side.

“I know my players are facing a daunting task. However, victory is vital for us to improve our chances in the league standings,” said Katwila.

He added, “We are facing the relegation zone. So, we need to get good results in order to avoid that.”