TZW
It will be the first time in the country for the Head of State to present the trophy to the Mainland Premier League champions ever since the lucrative league was established about five decades ago. Hence it will be a remarkable moment not only to Simba fans but the entire sports fraternity in the country.
At the special occasion, President Magufuli will also be presented with the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) trophy won by the national Under-17 side, Serengeti Boys in Burundi last month.
Simba will play host to Kagera Sugar as the former continue their magnificent league performance for this season and whatever the outcome at the end of the final whistle, the party will not be disrupted among the Msimbazi based giants.
‘Invincible’ Simba were officially declared new champions of the 16-team league two weeks ago following a 2-0 defeat by then their closest pursuers and traditional rivals Young Africans, who were humiliated by Tanzania Prisons at Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya.
The results which meant Yanga could not surpass Simba on points even if they were to win all their remaining games. With two matches to end their campaign, Simba’s 68 points tally cannot be reached by any other team in the league.
Yanga, who looked a distant threat to the unbeaten Msimbazi Street lads have played 26 matches and can knock at 60 points do they win their remaining five matches. Second placed Azam, with 52 points, can now reach 58 points if they win all two remaining matches.
Captain John Bocco, who made a last minute switch from Azam to Simba, will lead his colleagues in receiving the trophy from President Magufuli in his first season at the club so as other team members like Erasto Nyoni, Asante Kwasi, Aishi Manula and returning stars Emmanuel Okwi and Shomari Kapombe.
Also, the French Head Coach Pierre Lanchantre who took over the steering role of the club midway into the season from Cameroonian Joseph Omog will be probably the happiest man today for making such big achievement within a short spell at the club.
However, the Reds are on the verge to repeating another history of clinching the trophy unbeaten like they did in the 2009/2010 season and if they win today in their last home tie, then their last match of the campaign against Majimaji in Ruvuma make their ambition come true.
As jovial Simba fans are expected to colour red and white the 60,000 capacity stadium to welcome home the title they dearly missed for four consecutive seasons, pundits are eager to see how the Reds will be able to fly high the national flag during the upcoming CAF Champions League slated next year.
Most of them however, have confidence that if the current squad is well preserved, then Simba will have great advantage of doing well in CAF assignments even though they insisted that attacking force needs to be strengthened.
Simba will be joined by either Singida United or Mtibwa Sugar, who will meet each other in the finals of Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) in representing the country in CAF organised competitions. Speaking recently, Simba’s Communications Officer Haji Manara said, it is a big honour to receive the trophy from the president.
“We are have been honoured by our President John Magufuli, who has put aside his national building responsibilities to come and share a moment with us at the Stadium. This is the beginning of many positive things to come from Simba,” he said.
Additionally, Manara urged the team’s fans countrywide to throng the venue in their big numbers while insisting on them to purchase specially designed jerseys, which are being sold at 15,000/-.
“As one way to show pride on winning the title, we have prepared special jerseys of which I request more supporters to buy and the proceeds will be used to run other activities of the team,” Manara said.
Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda has assured fans who will turn up at the venue of maximum safety and security.
Speaking to journalists at his office in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Makonda also expressed his appreciation to Simba for keeping the league title in Dar es Salaam.
He also called on Yanga fans not to shy away from turning up at the venue.