Holders Simba intensified their inexorable title retention quest after thrashing blood brothers African Lyon by three goals in the Mainland soccer league match played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday. It was Amri Kiemba who shocked African Lyon with a fifth minute goal that lived up to half time mark. A second half double by Mbwana Samata who featured for Lyon in the previous season, concluded Simba’s goal feast for the day as they moved closer to topple rivals Yanga from the pilot seat. Samata who kept a low profile during the first half, unleashed his claws soon after resumption to beat Lyon’s goalkeeper Noel Lucas with a rebound, courtesy of an earlier power-packed shot by Jerry Santo. Samata concluded a well coordinated pass between Haruna Shamte and substitute Mohamed Banka eight minutes to time to put the game beyond reach of the struggling Lyon. Lyon would not make a come back into the game as Simba played with great composure to seal off the win. The victory has placed Simba just a point adrift of pace makers Young Africans who slipped up to Mtibwa Sugar on Wednesday, in their biggest blow since the second half of the season kicked off mid last month. With one game in hand, Simba are in pole position to topple the leaders should they post wins in their subsequent league assignments upcountry effective Sunday. Simba have to travel to Dodoma where they are scheduled to meet Police Dodoma. The cops from the Tanzanian capital had shocked the holders after ending their 30-premiership games rollercoaster display on September 19, at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in the league’s biggest upset of the season. Line-ups: Simba: Ali Mustafa, Haruna Shamte,Juma Jabu, Meshak Abel, Kelvin Yondani, Jerry Santo, Rashid Gumbo, Patrick Ochan, Musa Hassan/Ali Ahmed, Amri Kiemba/Mohamed Banka and Mbwana Samata. African Lyon: Noel Lucas, Rajabu Zahir/ Stephano Nkomola, Hamis Shengo/Haji Dudu, Zuberi Ubwa, Bakari Omari, Hamis Yusuph, Hamis Thabit/samuel Ngasa, Mohamed Samatta, Adam Kingandwe, Idrisa Rashid, Sunday Bakari. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
