Simba SC back in domestic league facing Namungo FC
Simba players during the past training session. The Msimbazi Street side today face Namungo FC in the NBC Premier League encounter at the Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi. PHOTO | COURTESY
The Msimbazi Street giants will be in action from 7pm with the target of victory in order to continue chasing their traditional rivals, Young Africans (Yanga), who are at the top with 68 points
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC are today back in the NBC Premier League facing Namungo FC at the Majaliwa Stadium in Lindi after they were eliminated last Friday by Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco in their return leg of the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League.
Simba lost 4-3 on penalty shootouts at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca to end their campaign for advancing to the semis.
The Msimbazi Street giants will be in action from 7pm with the target of victory in order to continue chasing their traditional rivals, Young Africans (Yanga), who are at the top with 68 points.
Simba are placed second with 63 points whereby all teams have played 26 matches. Yanga will be in action tomorrow at the Liti Stadium in Singida against Singida big Stars. Simba head coach Robert “Robertinho” Oliviera said they are taking the match seriously and that they will hopefully emerge victorious.
“We do not underestimate any team in the league. We target victory in order to chase the top position and reduce the gap,” said Robertinho.
According to him, all of his players are in good shape and have promised to win the encounter.
“We have now shifted our focus to domestic assignments and we need victory in order to reduce the point gap. We are still title favorites and we need to record the best result in all of our remaining encounters,” he said.
Namungo FC head coach Dennis Kitambi also said they target victory in the match, despite facing a strong opposition.
Namungo FC are placed sixth in the league standings with 35 points. As per their record, the team need to record more victories in their remaining matches in order to avoid relegation to the Championship League.
Kitambi explained that Simba are one of the top teams in the league with good players, but said they have prepared well to shock them as the three points are very important to them.
“We need to play with determination against Simba in our game. My players are in high morale ahead of the match. Our target is to win the tie,” insisted Kitambi.
So far, 11 teams are facing demotion in the league if they will not do well in their remaining matches. Apart from Namungo, other teams are Kagera Sugar, Ihefu, Tanzania Prisons, Dodoma Jiji, Coastal Union and Mtibwa Sugar. Also, on the list are Mbeya City, Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC), Polisi Tanzania and Ruvu Shooting.
As per the league standings, Ruvu Shooting, who have so far collected 20 points from 27 matches and Polisi Tanzania with 22 points from 27 matches have to struggle for victories as they are in the imminent danger of being relegated. KMC, who are placed 14th with 26 matches and Mbeya City (13th) with 27 matches also need to fight hard in order to avoid featuring in relegation playoffs with the Championship League teams as per regulations.
As per the league rules and regulations, two bottom-placed teams (16th and 15th) will directly be demoted to the Championship League (formerly the First Division).
