Simba topple Yanga in style

Dar es Salaam. Simba on the rampage. This is how one can describe the Msimbazi Street giants’ win against Coastal Union.

Patrick Aussems’ men inflicted a painful 8-1 defeat on Coastal Union in the Mainland Premier League match yesterday to topple title rivals Young Africans.

The victory means Simba are now at the summit of the top flight with 81 points, one ahead their traditional foes Yanga.

They will remain at the top for at least 24 hours until today when Yanga face Biashara United at the Karume Stadium in Mara.

Emmanuel Okwi and Meddie Kagere scored three goals each to steer the Msimbazi Reds to the convincing victory at the Uhuru Stadium.

Simba scored two more goals through Hassan Dilunga and Clatous Chama.

“It is an important win for us. It means we remain serious contenders for the title,” said Aussems after the game.

Okwi scored in the 10th, 19th and 46th minutes while Kagere netted three more goals in the 69th, 74th and 82nd minutes.

Dilunga and Chama scored in the 80th and 90th minutes respectively.

Raizan Hafidh had narrowed the deficit in the 35th.

Kagere, who was in a class of his own yesterday, has so far scored 20 goals, six ahead of Okwi and team captain John Bocco.

Meanwhile, the national soccer team, Taifa Stars, will report at camp on June 2 ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals to be held in Egypt next month.

Taifa Stars assistant coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Suleiman said yesterday that the team would leave for Egypt on June 9 or 10 for further training for the finals scheduled for June 21 to July 19.

Already the team’s technical bench has unveiled a 39-member provisional squad for the Afcon.

“If all goes well, we will play at least three international friendly matches ahead of the Afcon finals,” said Morocco.

According to Morocco, the team’s head coach, Emmanuel Amunike, will name his final squad before heading to Egypt.

“On June 13, we will face Egypt in a friendly match at the Borg al Arab Stadium in Cairo,” he said.

When reached for comment on the matter, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) technical director, Ammy Ninje, plans were on for the federation to organise high-profile friendlies for the team.

Stars are in Group C together with neighbours Kenya, Senegal and Algeria.

Amunike’s men will launch their Afcon campaign against Senegal on June 23, before facing Kenya’s Harambee Stars four days later.

They will wind up their group stage campaign on July 1 against Algeria.

Stars last competed in the Afcon finals in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria.