TZW
Simba now turned their focus on the Mainland Premier League after being eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup by Egyptian side Al Masry on an away goal rule, following a 2-2 goal on aggregate. Simba were held on 2-2 draw at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on March 7th this year and forced to a barren draw away in Port Said on March 17th this year.
The Msimbazi Reds under the tutelage of Frenchman, Pierre Lechantre and his assistant Burundian Masoud Djuma will resume their title race campaign against Njombe Mji at the Sabasaba ground in Makambako on Tuesday. According to Simba’s Head of Information and Communication, Haji Manara, the team will leave Dar es Salaam today for Iringa, where they will pitch a two-day camp, before proceeding to Njombe on Monday in time for their Tuesday’s game.
Manara urged the club supporters in Iringa and Njombe regions as well as other Southern Highlands regions in general to welcome and fully support their team, ahead of their clash in Njombe, which is vital in their title race campaign. However, the contingent which is expected to travel to Iringa and later Njombe will miss the service of maestro defensive midfielder, Jonas Mkude, who sustained ankle injury during training session at Boko Veteran ground in preparation for the Tuesday’s game.
Furthermore, team skipper John Bocco, defender Salim Mbonde and gifted Rwandese midfielder Haruna Niyonzima, are still in doubt of making the trip as they are still regaining match fitness after being out of action due to injuries. Simba are at the summit of the league table tied on 46 points with their archrivals and league defending champions Yanga but they are ahead on superior goal difference advantage.
The Msimbazi Reds have also played a game less 20 compared to Yanga’s 21, which is an added advantage for them if they managed to post positive results on Tuesday, which will see them opening a three point lead. Azam FC are third on the log with 44 points from 22 matches. After a game against Njombe Mji, Simba are scheduled to take on Mtibwa Sugar at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro on April 9th this year and they will be back in Dar es Salaam to face Mbeya City on April 12.
Simba will then play against another Southern Highlands side, Tanzania Prisons on April 16th thereafter, they will travel to Iringa to face Lipuli FC at the Samora Stadium ahead of the eagerly awaited ‘Dar derby’ clash against Yanga on April 29th at the National Stadium.
Whereas their archrivals and league defending champions Yanga will be in action on Easter Sunday (tomorrow) against Singida United at the Namfua Stadium in Singida in the Azam Sports Confederation Cup (ASFC) quarterfinal game. Yanga players, who were in the national team, Taifa Stars squad – Ibrahim Ajib, Gadiel Michael, Hassan Kessy and Kelvin Yondani joined the rest of the squad yesterday in Morogoro region, where the team had pitched its camp ahead of the ASFC quarterfinal match.
However, goalkeeper Ramadhan Kabwili has been left in Dar es Salaam as he is serving the national Under-20 side, Ngorongoro Heroes, which face DR Congo in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers campaign at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam today.