Newly signed Emmanuel Okwi could not stop fantastic Simba from emphatically whipping Young Africans 3-1 and lift ‘Nani Mtani Jembe’ trophy at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
The Msimbazi Reds produced a dazzling display throughout the game, in which Burundian international Amis Tambwe scored a brace in the first half, while the newly recruited attacking midfielder from Mtibwa Sugar Awadh Juma added the third after the break and Yanga consolation goal came through Emmanuel Okwi in the dying minutes of the game.
Simba came into the match as underdogs and Yanga highly paid the price for underrating their charged up opponents under the inspirational coach— Croatian, Zdravko Logarusic.
With packed midfield of Jonas Mkude, Henry Joseph, Said Ndemla and Awadh Juma, it was no surprise as Simba went straight into business and win possession in the opening exchanges.
They created several scoring opportunities building their movements slowly but surely. Goal getter Tambwe opened the scoring for Logarusic lads in the 13th minute after connecting into the net a well calculated pass from youngster Said Ndemla , which gave more confidence to Simba.
Immediately thereafter, Simba nearly added the second when Tambwe put through Haroun Chanongo, but the young Taifa Stars winger failed to hit the target.
Yanga on their side, with such experienced names as Mrisho Ngassa, Hamis Kiiza, Didier Kavumbagu and Haruna Niyonzima failed to penetrate the well built Simba defence under newly recruited central defender Donald Mosoti from Gor Mahia of Kenya.
Jonas Mkude and Henry Joseph commanded well in the midfield in the first half outshining Athuman Idd ‘Chuji’ and Frank Domayo which helped Simba to control the match, leaving their opponents struggling.
To the surprise of many Simba’s coach Logarusic made a quick double substitutes few minutes after his team got the lead bringing in Ramadhani Singano ‘Messi’ and Ramadhani Chombo ‘Redondo,’ for Ndemla and Joseph respectively, changes which proved fruitful. Singano, using his complex dribbling skills proved to be a sharp thorn for Yanga’s defence marshalled by Kelvin Yondan.
The diminutive winger twisted and turned around David Luhende and the latter charged to bundle him down inside the box. Match referee Ramadhan Ibada pointed for the spot kick. Again, Tambwe stepped up and sent goalie, Juma Kaseja the wrong way to double his team’s lead five minutes before the breather.
On the restart, Yanga tactician, Ernie Brandts, who fielded almost the very same squad which got a 3-3 draw with Simba in their outing except Kaseja, introduced Simon Msuva, newly recruited Okwi and Hamis Dilunga, but things went from bad to worse to his team as Simba put the game beyond their reach.
Former Simba custodian, Kaseja produced a ‘comical’ blunder which left Awadh Juma with an easy chance to score the third in the 56th minute. It was a deserving goal for Awadh, which capped his fantastic display in his debut game for Simba. He was later replaced by Zahoro Pazi after picking an injury.
Simba also introduced Uhuru Selemani and Amri Kiemba for Chanongo and Tambwe while Yanga brought in Juma Abdul in the defence for Nadir Haroub ‘Canavarro’ but they were in tatters when Yondan was shown a second yellow and was out of the game after fouling incredible Singano who was penetrating Yanga defence almost at will.
However, Okwi managed to head home the consolation a minute before the final whistle but there was no time for Yanga to replicate Simba’s heroic and produce a dramatic come back.
The friendly match dubbed ‘Nani Mtani Jembe’ was sponsored by Kilimanjaro Premium Lager, a Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) and winners Simba were awarded 100m/-, while Yanga got 98m/-. Simba: Ivo Mapunda, Haruna Shamte, Issa Rashid, Joseph Owino, Donald Mosoti, Julius Mkude, Haruna Chanongo/ Uhuru Seleman, Henry Joseph/ Ramadhan Chombo, Amis Tambwe/ Amri Kiemba , Said Ndemla/ Ramadhan Singano and Awadh Juma/ Zahoro Pazi. Yanga: Juma Kaseja , Mbuyu Twite, David Luhende/ Oscar Joshua , Nadir ‘Canavarro’/Juma Abdul, Kelvin Yondani, Athuman Idd/ Hamis Dilunga, Haruna Niyonzima, Frank Domayo, Didier Kavumbagu/ Emmanuel Okwi, Mrisho Ngasa/ Jerry Tegete and Hamis Kiiza/ Simon Msuva
Source Tanzania Daily News