Simba drop crucial points
Simba dropped crucial points in the race to the Mainland Premier League title after being held to a 2-2 draw by Mbeya City at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The league leaders were forced to come from behind twice to rescue a point.
Ditram Nchimbi put Mbeya City ahead in the first half but Ibrahim Ajib canceled it out midway in the second half. Then, skipper Kenny Ally scored the second for Mbeya City but there was still time for Shiza Kichuya to net an equaliser from the spot with five minutes to go.
Despite the set back, Simba are still narrowly leading the chase with 55 points from 24 matches, three above defending champions Young Africans, who are now presented with a chance to go top of the table if they beat Mtibwa Sugar at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro today.
Yanga, who slightly lost sight of the front runners last weekend following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Simba, recovered almost immediately last Wednesday to beat Ruvu Shooting 2-0.
A win against Mtibwa Sugar will see them go top on goal difference. Prior to yesterday’s match, Simba vowed to maintain their winning formula to close in on title, which eluded them for the past four seasons.
However, they found the going tough as Mbeya City equaled the task. Simba will have to blame themselves for failing to win maximum points after squandering a host of scoring opportunities especially by Burundian striker, Laudit Mavugo, Ajib, Kichuya and midfielder Said Ndemla. Cameroonian coach, Joseph Omog, opted to keep returning defender, Ugandan Juuko Murshid on the bench and instead, deployed Ghanaian midfielder James Kotei as a make shift central defender, partnering Abdi Banda.
The decision almost cost the Msimbazi Reds as defence looked porous. The host started promisingly, displaying neat passing game but lacked ideas in the final third of their opponents. Just three minutes into the game, left wing back, Mohammed Hussein deep cross in was cleared by Haruna Shamte.
In the 12th minute Mavugo’s cross was headed wide by Kichuya. In the 17th minute Mbeya City almost caught Simba napping, when Shamte released a cross from the right but Kenny Ally’s glancing header missed the target.
Mbeya City were now gaining confidence. Nchimbi bizarrely failed to score in the 25th minute after outpacing two Simba defenders and beat advancing keeper Daniel Agyei but his feeble shot sailed wide. Simba also came close from going ahead in the 35th minute, when Muzamiru Yassin fired his shot wide.
A brilliant play by Hamad Juma, who beat his marker on the right side and released a diagonal pass that found Yassin in the six yards out, the midfielder, took a smart first touch but his final shot went agonizingly wide.
Two minutes later, Simba paid for their ineptness and poor defending when they allowed Nchimbi to latch onto Raphael Daudi’s pass into the box and fired home. Five minutes before the break, Ajib skillfully danced past defenders but failed to make the most from the chance created.
After the break, Simba upped the tempo and in the 52nd minute, Ndemla’s shot inside the box was timely blocked by defenders to a fruitless corner kick. With time running out, Simba called off Muzamiru Yassin and introduced skilful Mohammed Ibrahim in the 58th minute.
Immediately after his introduction, Simba looked a side more likely to score and in the 55th minute Mavugo headed wide from Ajib’s cross. In the 59th minute, Ndemla cleverly set Ibrahim but keeper goalkeeper Owen Chiama, parried off and ball landed on Mavugo’s path but the Burundian shot agonizingly wide.
After an hour mark, Mbeya City coach Kinnah Phiri introduced Ayub Semtawa for Mrisho Ngasa but it was Simba who celebrated with Ajib’s well taken goal from a set piece in the 65th minute, which went straight into the back of the net.
After the goal, Simba continue piling pressure on their opponents’ goal hunting for the lead. However, despite their domination Mbeya City scored the second goal against the run of play in the 78th minute.
Ally capitalised on another good counter attack to score after being put clear by Nchimbi. Nchimbi could make matter worse for Simba but he missed good chance with only goalkeeper Agyei to beat after once again going through unsettled Simba defence.
With six minutes to go, Mwinyi Kazimoto, who came in for Ajib played a through ball to Hussein, who was bundled down by defender Tumba Lui in the box and referee, Jacob Adongo pointed to the spot. Kichuya stepped up to score his 11th goal of the campaign.
In another match, Toto African who are struggling to escape relegation securing a crucial victory 2-0 defeat against Mbao FC at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, while Kagera Sugar beat Majimaji FC 1-0 at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba.