Simba extend rollercoaster show

Simba`s Ugandan import Emmanuel Okwi (R) shoots past JKT Ruvu defender Boniface Mwakamele during their Mainland premier soccer league match played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.

Simba intensified their inexorable quest in pursuit of Mainland premiership soccer title when they whacked Ruvu JKT by 4-1 goals, in a match played at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The Dar es Salaam side maintained their eight-match rollercoaster display with unique unbeaten run to attain 24 points at the end of the eighth round.

Simba have widened their point gap to nine over second placed Azam FC who have tied at 15 points mark with holders Young Africans and Mtibwa Sugar teams.

The well drilled Simba team displayed a skillful full fledged attacking football to reduce JKT Ruvu into mere novices at a packed stadium.

With three rounds to wrap up the first half of the league, Simba might overstay at the summit of the standings should they maintain winning streak.

Poor goalkeeping by Ruvu JKT’s first choice custodian Juma Dihile coupled with Simba’s attacking threshold, were the factors behind the army team’s flop in the match.

Explosive Simba broke the deadlock after 29 minutes through new signing Uhuru Suleiman and just a minute later their Ugandan import Emmanuel Okwi doubled the tally as Ruvu JKT camp were shell shocked.

Complacency might be the reason for the Simba team to concede Amos Mgisa’s surprise goal barely two minutes to the half time mark. Mgisa beat Simba custodian Juma Kaseja by a projectile volley that quietly settled into the net unnoticed by many.

Five minutes after restart Simba striker Ramadhan Chombo scored the third goal when goalkeeper Juma Dihile misjudged it as wide ball as it sailed into the net calmly.

Simba’s Ugandan import Emmanuel Okwi was a constant menace to the JKT Ruvu defense as he kept prowling with penetrative yet intricate moves.

Musa Hassan wrapped up Simba’s victory with a fourth goal twelve minutes to time after combining well with Okwi upfront.

JKT Ruvu missed the services of their industrious midfielder Mwinyi Kazimoto who was ruled out of the match due to injury. The match witnessed poor refereeing by Kennedy Mapunda whose decisions were allegedly, improper.

Simba host Azam FC in the ninth round of the league on Saturday at the same venue, a week ahead of their clash against rivals Yanga.

Line-ups

Ruvu JKT:
Shaaban Dihile, Damas Makwaya, Shaibu Nayopa, Kessy Mapande, George Minja, Sul Maganga, Hassan Kikuchwa/Boniface Mwakamale, Sosthenes Manyasi/Bakari Kondo, Amos Mgisa/Oscar Sagutina, Grayson Haule, Hussein Bunu, Amos Juma.

Simba:
Juma Kaseja, Salum Kanoni, Juma Jabu, Hilal Echesa, Joseph Owino, Kelvin Yondani, Mohamed Banka, Uhuru Suleiman/Danny Mrwanda, Ramadhan Chombo/David Naftal, Musa Hassan, Emmanuel Okwi.