Buoyant Simba plot Mtibwa ambush

Dar es Salaam. Coach Patrick Aussems’ charges will be subjected to yet another tricky test today when Simba take on Mtibwa Sugar.

The eagerly awaited clash, which kicks off at 4pm at the Uhuru Stadium, will give a clear picture of what to expect at the end of the 2018/19 season.

After dropping five vital points in their last two Mainland Premier League games, Simba need a win today so as to put their campaign back on track.

They lost 1-0 to Kagera Sugar at the Uhuru Stadium on May 10 before battling to a barren draw against Azam FC on Monday, at the same venue.

The Msimbazi Street giants now sit second in the league table with 82 points from 33 matches, while Mtibwa Sugar are placed fifth with 49 points from 34 games.

Young Africans, who squeezed a 1-0 win over Ruvu Shooting in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, are at the top with 83 points from 36 matches.

This means a win for Aussems’ men in today’s clash, will see them hitting an 85-point mark and wrest the league leadership from their title rivals Yanga.

And the Msimbazi Reds have psychological edge over Mtibwa, who lost 2-1 to Singida United before settling for a 2-2 draw against JKT Tanzania in their last two games.

In their last 10 Premier League matches in five seasons, Simba have won six encounters and four games ended in draws.

Mtibwa have scored only three goals in 10 league games against Simba.

The Morogoro boys last beat Simba on February 24, 2013, when they notched up a 2-0 win.

But Mtibwa coach Zuberi Katwila says history will count for nothing in today’s clash.

“There are no injuries to worry about at our camp,” Katwila said yesterday.