Champs Simba out to leapfrog buoyant Azam

Mwanza. Second spot in the Mainland Premier League table beckons for high-flying Simba when they face KMC at the CCM Kirumba Stadium here today.

Simba, who beat Alliance FC 2-0 at the same venue on Tuesday, have been churning out wins almost at will this season.

Theirs is the only midweek fixture on schedule, and this gives the defending champions a chance to close the gap on title-rivals Young Africans to eight points.

Current table leaders Yanga, who are not in action today, have 74 points from 32 games, 11 points ahead of Simba.

Three points against KMC in today’s clash, which kicks off at 4pm, will also see the Msimbazi Reds leapfrog or share the second spot with Azam FC.

Second-placed Azam, who have 66 points, have been sidelined until next week.

Currently, Simba sit third on the log with 63 points from 25 matches, 11 points adrift of league leaders Yanga and three behind Azam.

To this end, Simba have a worthy squad that includes star strikers Meddie Kagere, Emmanuel Okwi and John Bocco.

Okwi, whose superb goal steered Simba to a 2-0 win against Alliance on Tuesday, will likely start in today’s clash.

Simba head coach Patrick Ausems, whose team crashed out of the Caf Champions League in the quarter-finals to the advantage of DR Congo’s TP Mazembe earlier this month, is enjoying good results at the club.

The Belgian has, however, decried the fixture glut that his team has to contend with, but is thankful for the good quality of his players.

“We played against Alliance on Tuesday and two days later we face KMC,” he said.