A wonder striker by midfielder, Jonas Mkude gave Simba SC maximum points to maintain their grip at the top of the Mainland Premier League table, with a 1-0 win over Mbeya’s Prisons at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Simba skipper, Nassoro Masoud Said ‘Chollo’ vie for the ball with Prisons striker, Jeremiah Mgunda during their Premier League encounter at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday. Simba won 1-0. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
Their rivals– Young Africans also moved second behind Simba with a 2-1 win over hosts Kagera Sugar at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba yesterday, thanks to goals from Mrisho Ngassa and Hamisi Kiiza.
On Saturday’s matches served as a final warm up for the giants before their anxiously awaited Sunday’s derby clash at the National Stadium.
At the National Stadium on Saturday, Simba presented their coach Abdallah ‘King’ Kibaden Mputa with a pleasing birthday gift as they put up an eye catching second half display to win over resistant Prisons.
Kibaden celebrated his 64th birthday on Saturday.
It was an end to end duel from the kick off as both teams sought an early goal. Two minutes into play, Simba survived a scare when striker, Peter Michael beat Burundian defender Gilbert Kaze and rounded off Ugandan keeper, Abel Dhaira, but Ugandan defender, Joseph Owino reacted quickly to head the ball away to a fruitless corner kick.
Striker, Jeremy Juma nearly punished Simba in the 12th minute but his fierce shot sailed narrowly wide.
Simba poured forward thereafter, in bid to take a lead but their opponents stood firm to shut them out.
In the 19th minute youthful striker, Edward Christopher, playing his first league match this season, almost scored following a goal-mouth melee, but his header was cleared off the line.
Prisons led by Omega Seme, on loan from Yanga dominated in the middle of the pack in the first half. Kibaden was forced to make an early change, bringing in Haruna Shamte for injured Omar Salum.
After the break, Simba started with intent to win and took command of the midfield, where goal scorer, Mkude linked up well with Abdulhalim Humud to build slow but solid movements upfront.
The Msimbazi Reds were also pushing hard through the flanks, where youthful Ramadhani Singano and Haroun Chanongo incisive running gave Prisons torrid moment. Prisons, threatened out of the blue in the 52nd minute, when Seme was allowed time and space into Simba’s box but his rasping shot could not find the target.
Then, Simba celebrated the lone goal of the match in the 62nd minute, when impressive Mkude positioning himself right at the edge of the box, rifled in with a right foot volley, reacting from a rebound following Edward Christopher’s deep corner kick in the area. Few minutes later, Kibaden introduced Zahoro Pazi for hard fighting Christopher.
Mkude missed a sitter immediately thereafter. The holding midfielder had only keeper to beat but miscued his header after he received a cross from the left. Prisons replied with a fierce shot a minute later, Jeremy Juma’s shot could only hit the side nets.
League top scorer, Amis Tambwe almost doubled the advantage for Simba in the 78th minute but couldn’t find the target. With eight minutes to go, arguably man of the match Mkude went for goal with a fierce strike that forced keeper to a full stretch.
Following the victory, Simba have reached 18 points at the summit of the 14-team league, three above holders, Yanga, who won 2-1 at the Kaitaba Stadium yesterday. Both Simba and Yanga have played eight matches so far.
It was the first away victory for Yanga this season. Yanga dislodged Azam FC to retain the second place on 15 points from four matches. The ice cream makers’ dropped down to third on the table with 14 points same as fourth placed Mbeya City.
Ngassa maintained his prolific goal scoring form, after finding the back of the net just two minutes from the kick off, when he headed home an attacking throw in from Congolese defender, Mbuyu Twite.
Kagera Sugar pressed forward for an equaliser and their efforts paid off in the 47th minute, when Godfrey Wambura pulled level after he latched onto a cross from Paul Ngway. Kiiza netted the winner for Yanga in the 59th minute.
The Ugandan striker raced to a long pass from Twite, beat defender, Ernest Mwalupani to the ball and buried the ball into the back of the net.
Another match yesterday saw Tanga’s Coastal Union and Ashanti fighting to a 1-1 draw at the Azam Complex, Chamazi, Dar es Salaam.
Source Tanzania Daily News
