Simba snatch win to go top

Dar es Salaam. A brace from Ugandan hot-shot Hamis Kiiza took Simba Sports Club to the summit of the Vodacom Premier League table yesterday.

Red-hot Simba squeezed out a 2-1 victory over stubborn Stand United at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga, thus completing their Lake Zone matches with a 100 per cent.

The victory took the Jackson Mayanja’s men to the top with 45 points, two above Young Africans and three above Azam FC who have one and three matches in hand respectively.

However, Simba’s stay at the top may only last 24 hours depending on how Azam will fare against Coastal Union at Mkwakwani Stadium this evening.

Azam need a 3-0 victory to leapfrog the Msimbazi Reds.

It was the eighth consecutive victory for caretaker Jackson Mayanja who took up the reins from Dylan Kerr last month.

In Mbeya, Mbeya City put Toto Africans to the sword after banging in five goals to one.

Former Simba playmaker Haruna Moshi “Boban” struck twice as Rafael Alpha, Ramadhani Chombo and Meshack Samuel registered their names on the score board.

It was the first victory for their new Malawian coach, Kinnah Phiri who signed a two-year contract with Mbeya City last week.

The struggling Mbeya team has now climbed to the 13th spot with 21 points. They tie with Toto Africans. African Sports kept up their efforts to move out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Mgambo JKT at Mkwakwani Stadium as JKT Ruvu and Kagera Sugar played out a one-all draw at Azam Complex.

As the title race hots up, the battle for the golden boot also does. Kiiza now tops the scoring chart with 16 goals, leaving his close challenger Amissi Tambwe of Yanga by two goals.

Next weekend, Yanga and Simba will meet at the National Stadium with the two free-scoring strikers expected to lift their respective teams.