Sports

Simba win as Yanga tumble

JKT Ruvu defender, Damas Makwaya (left) tussles for the ball with Simba’s striker Daniel Akuffor during the Premier League match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam . Simba won 2-0.

• Okwi sees red

MAINLAND Champions Simba SC maintained their winning start in the top flight league, cruising 2-0 past JKT Ruvu, while their rivals Young Africans suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of Mtibwa Sugar in Morogoro.

Despite playing with 10 men for most part of the game Simba, who defeated African Lyon 3-0 in their opening match last Saturday, were too strong for JKT Ruvu and deservedly registered their second win on the trot thanks to second half goals from Amri Kiemba and Haruna Moshi.

The results moved Simba six points on top of the table, while Yanga, who drew 1-1 with Mbeya’s Prisons in their opening match on Saturday have only one point on hand after two rounds. Simba began searching for the opener in earnest and went close after just a few minutes of action when Ugandan striker, Emmanuel Okwi, fired across the face of the goal from inside JKT Ruvu box.

Okwi had another chance inside the area a few minutes later but fired wide. Simba right fullback, Nassor Masoud and midfielder, Mwinyi Kazimoto, then attempted long range efforts that went way over the crossbar.JKT Ruvu had much fewer opportunities in front of Simba goal thanks to tight marking by latter’s defenders but the Coast Region side still managed to impose itself well in the few chances.

Ruvu’s towering, muscular striker, Omar Changa, was the biggest threat to the Simba defence whenever Ruvu pushed forward and Simba defenders had to be more alert in the process.Simba were dealt a huge blow midway through the half when Okwi was shown a straight red card for deliberately elbowing one of Ruvu defenders.

The Ugandan ace had been fouled just a few metres from the centre circle and quickly reacted by elbowing the player and the referee, Andrew Shamba, who was a few feet away, saw it and had no option but give Okwi marching orders.Okwi put himself further in trouble when he roughed up a fan, who was taunting the player as he was proceeding to the dressing room.

Shortly before the Okwi incident, Ruvu threatened when midfielder, Credo Mwaipopo, forced a fine diving save from keeper, Juma Kaseja, with a sizzling 25 metres shot. Ruvu defenders made two goal line clearances to deny Simba striker, Daniel Akuffor, and midfielder Haruna Moshi a few minutes before the breather and the two sides had to settle for the goalless draw at half time.

Simba then went ahead a minute into the second half through midfielder, Amri Kiemba, who pounced on a loose ball inside Ruvu box to slam in and complete a corner kick taken by left fullback, Amir Maftah.The game was balanced thereafter, as both sides made occasional forays which, however, were not quite effective.

Simba were 2-0 up on the 73rd minute when Moshi banged in from inside the area to complete a pass from winger, Mrisho Ngasa, who snatched the ball from a Ruvu defender almost 35 metres out, then danced past a couple of other Ruvu defenders prior to speeding to the area and releasing Moshi.

At the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro, Hussein Javu scored a stunning brace as Mtibwa Sugar condemned former champions Yanga to soul-searching 3-0 defeat.Mtibwa Sugar defender Dickson Daudi opened the scoring for his side after 11 minutes, pumping home free header following a well delivered corner kick from Malika Ndeule.

Yanga’s efforts to find the equalizer failed to bear fruits as the team’s strikers wasted a few scoring opportunities that went their way thereafter.Playing with determination, Mtibwa Sugar doubled their advantage shortly before the breather when Javu beat goalkeeper Ali Mustafa with a fierce shot after Yanga defenders had failed to clear a long goal delivered into their box.

Yanga coach Tom Saintfiet made a host of changes in the second half trying to revitalize his side but it was Mtibwa Sugar who once again succeeded to find the back of the net, after Javu unleashed a powerful long range effort that gave Mustafa almost no chance. Elsewhere, Azam FC and hosts Toto Africans fought to a 2-2 draw at the CCM Kirumba in Mwanza, reports Mosses Mathew.

Toto African took a lead in 24th minute through striker Seleman Kibuta. Azam pushed forward in search for an equalizer but Toto’s brilliant defending denied them. The Ice Cream makers continued pushing and their efforts paid off in the 29th minute through midfielder Abdulhalim Humud.

Azam netted six minutes before the final whistle through Kipre Tchetche, who connected home a corner kick well taken by Abdi Kassim. However, there was still enough time for Toto African to equalize, when Roberth Magadula netted with three minutes to go. At the Mlandizi ground in Coast Region Ruvu Shooting won 2-1 against Tanga’s Mgambo JKT, while Coastal Union were held to a 1-1 draw by Prisons at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya.