Simba recover to close gap


Simba recovered and concluded the Mainland Premier League first phase on a higher note with 4-2 victory over Ashanti United at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to close the gap with leaders Azam.

Ashanti United full-back left Jaffari Gonga (right) vies for the ball with Simba striker Amisi Tambwe during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday. Simba won 4-2. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)

The victory came as a relief to Simba’s technical bench, which was reportedly given an ultimatum to win the match or face the exit door. However, Simba remained on fourth place on 24 points, two below Azam and Mbeya City and a point below their rivals Young Africans who are third on 25 points.

Two goals from Simba’s towering striker Betram Mwombeki and one each by Burundian hit-man Amis Tambwe and wing wizard Ramadhani Singano enable the Msimbazi Street boys to earn their first three points after failing to do so in their past four matches of the league and also relieving the pressure the technical bench under Abdallah ‘King’ Kibaden was in.

Efforts from Hussein Swedi and former Simba, Yanga and Taifa Stars winger Said Maulid ‘SMG’, who scored a goal apiece, could not save Ashanti United’s skin.

Kibaden’s boys were the first to knock the door of their opponents after Singano alias ‘Messi’ scored the opening goal after just eight minutes of the game, but his goal was cancelled out in the two added minutes before the breather to make the score 1-1.

Ashanti United goal’s was scored by Hussein Swedi after pint size Simba keeper Abuu Hashim failed to clear Hussein Mkongo’s cross from the right and the ball landed on the path of the scorer who headed it into the yawning net with a free header.

This was the second time in a row that Simba opponents scored goals in the added minutes before winding-up the game. During the match against Kagera Sugar, Simba saw their victory vanishing into thin air when the Kagera lads levelled the score in the dying minutes of the game.

The Msimbazi Reds came into the second half more rejuvenated and spirited after introducing William Lucian and Said Ndemla for Amri Kiemba and Henry Joseph respectively.

The changes proved to be crucial as within the first five minutes of the half they managed to score two quick goals through Tambwe and Mwombeki in the 46th and 49th minutes respectively. Tambwe, the Burundian international, scored the second goal for Simba after finishing a nice spadework by Singano, who dribbled past several Ashanti United defenders to set up the scorer.


It was Tambwe’s tenth goal of the season and continued to lead the battle for the premier league ‘golden boot’. And, Mwombeki scored the third after connecting home a well calculated cross from overlapping right fullback Haruna Shamte. It all started from arguably man of the match Singano, who had danced past several Ashanti United players and released Shamte down the right.

In the 52th minute Maulid reduced the margin and made it 3-2. The tricky diminutive winger arrived in time to make contact with Hussein Swedi’s cross deep in the area.

However, there was still time for Mwombeki to grab his second of the day and the fourth for Simba with a magnificent diving header after an hour mark, leaving goalkeeper Amani Simba diving in vain to stop the ball, With three minutes remaining before the final whistle United were reduced to ten men after their keeper Amani was shown a red card after he blocked the ball using his hands outside the box, denying goal-bound Singano his second goal of the match.

Ashanti united coach Nicholas Kiondo was forced to make tactical changes and sacrificed skipper Paul Maona for second choice keeper Daudi Mwasongwe.

In other league matches on Wednesday, Ruvu Shooting came from behind to force a 2-2 draw with Mtibwa Sugar at Mabatini grounds in Mlandizi, Coast Region.

Juma Luizio and Shaaban Kisiga netted Mtibwa goals. At Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba hosts Kagera Sugar thrashed Mgambo JKT 2-0 through goals from Themi Felix and Suleiman Kibuta while JKT Ruvu stunned Coastal Union 1-0 at the Azam Complex at Chamazi, Dar es Salaam.

The curtain will come to a close today with two matches on the card. Holders Yanga will welcome Arusha’s JKT Oljoro at the National Stadium as Azam play host to Mbeya City.

The match between Azam and Mbeya City at the Azam Complex will definitely attract plenty of attention as both teams will be seeking to finish the first round in a commanding position.

Source Tanzania Daily News

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