Israel Saria
Holders Simba handed Mtibwa Sugar the first defeat of the opening premiership soccer season after Rashid Gumbo converted a controversial penalty after 61 minutes at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro, yesterday.
The teams battled to a barren draw up to the half time mark with Mtibwa Sugar dominating the first half with at least six goal attempts.
Mtibwa displayed a well co-ordinated attacking football only to lose concentration upfront especially in the first half.
The match which was preceded by bribery allegations on part of Simba whose former player Ulimboka Mwakingwe was arrested in Manungu on Tuesday night, put the visitors in tension mood throughout.
The hosts looked confident to convince their fans of proceedings to claim all the three allotted points for the day.
Simba pressed hard for the opener as the second half resumed with their Zambian coach Patrick Phiri making several substitutions.
Referee Alex Mahaji awarded Simba the penalty that frustrated the host side players and fans when the visitor’s Emmanuel Okwi collided with Mtibwa Sugar defender after 60 minutes.
Rashid Gumbo converted a penalty that ricocheted into the net after hitting the goalpost with custodian Shaaban Kado well beaten.
The penalty frustrated Mtibwa Sugar players who resorted into rough play to lose their vibrancy upfront.
The win has elevated Simba to their second spot with 15 points, breathing heavily on pace makers and rivals Yanga by a single point margin after six appearances.
Simba were relegated to the third spot by JKT Ruvu for the past few days.
Line-ups:
Simba: Juma Kaseja, Haruna Shamte, Juma Jabu, Kelvin Yondani, Joseph Owino, Mohamed Banka, Amri Kiemba/Musa Hassan, Rashid Gumbo/Juma Nyoso, Jerry Santo, Emmanuel Okwi and Shija Mkina/Mohamed Kijuso.
Mtibwa Sugar: Shaaban Kado, Yusuf Nguya, Juma Abdul, Yona Ndabila, Obadia Mungusa, Shaaban Nditi, Salum Machaku, Masoud Ali/Zuberi Katwila, Saidi Mkopi, Vincent Barnabas/Omar Matuta, and Zahor Pazi/ Thomas Morris.
In Arusha AFC fans pelted their team with stones after suffering their fifth loss of the season at the hands of visiting Toto Africa by a lone goal in a match played at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium.
Jacob Massawe grabbed the winner after 78 minutes as the home side failed to recover. In Tanga JKT Ruvu and Azam FC battled to a barren draw.
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