Simba maintain winning run

Dar es Salaam. Simba Sports Club have continued with their winning run in the Tanzania Premier League after beating Mbeya City 3-1 at the National Stadium yesterday.

The victory has enabled the Msimbazi Street side to collect 55 points, thus creating an eight point gap between the defending champions Young Africans who are placed second with 47 points. Mbeya City who were among the strong teams in the previous season are now placed ninth with 26 points after playing 24 matches. The victory has also boosted Simba toward silverware which they did not win in the previous seasons. Simba last won the title in 2011/2012 season and since then, the trophy won by Young Africans which won four times and Azam FC which won once in 2013/14.

Simba started the encounter with a bang and scored the first goal in 17th through Emmanuel Okwi who utilised bounced ball from Mbeya City’s goalkeeper Owen Chaima after John Bocco’s powerfully shot just outside the danger zone.

The goal seemed to confuse Mbeya City players who applied tough tactics aiming to stop Simba strikers who made a series of attacks while missing clear scoring chances.

Simba celebrated the second goal in the 33rd through Asante Kwasi following a good corner from Shiza Kichuya. However, Mbeya City reduced the score in the 35th through Frank Ikobela .

As Mbeya City increasing a pace aiming to equalise, Simba scored the third goal in the 36th through John Bocco. Simba led 3-1 at the breather.

Mbeya City started the second half with a quick pace and managed to press to Simba, but the team’s strikers, Ikobela and Victor Hangaya continued to waste the scoring chances. Simba captain Mohamed Hussein congratulated his fellow players for the victory and called them to continue with the winning record in order to win the title.

“We did not win the title for long time, our members and fans want the trophy, we are not required to be satisfied with the positive way we are moving, we need to make efforts and collect more points,” said Hussein.

Mbeya City captain Owen Chaima said they made mistakes in the first half and allowed Simba to score the goals. “We did not play well in the first half, we did many mistakes compared to the second half, we are not in the impressive position and we need to restore our winning record,” said Chaima.

In another match played at Manungu Complex, Mtibwa Sugar won 1-0 against Ndanda FC while heavy downpour caused Ruvu Shooting match against Azam Fc to be postponed.