Simba open two-point gap

Simba team Substitute Ali Ahmed “ Shiboli’s second half goal five minutes to time against Ruvu Shooting at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro yesterday, was enough to help his team bounce back at the helm of the Mainland’s premiership standings.

The victory has elevated Simba to hit 41 points to open a two-point gap over rivals Yanga and five over third placed Azam FC after 18 appearances. The three top placed teams have four matches in hand before the league ends on April 10. Ruvu Shooting displayed a brilliant show right from the kick off and held the visitors to a goalless draw up to the end of the first half. The hosts were denied a penalty when Simba defender Kelvin Yondani handed the ball inside the box only for referee Abdallah Kambuzi to wave play on. Simba tried hard to find a breakthrough and coach Patrick Phiri had to substitute skipper Nico Nyagawa for Musa Hassan and Mbwana Samata for Ali Ahmed Shiboli. The substitution paid off as Shiboli scored with a power-packed shot that sailed straight into the net five minutes to time to herald Simba’s hard won victory. Shooting’s Fulzul Maganga had his power-packed shot hit the crossbar past Simba custodian Ali Mustafa for a goal kick in a last-gasp efforts to secure a draw. The result has dealt a blow to Ruvu Shooting who have been stuck at the tenth position with paltry 15 points to gaze at the relegation borderline with three points over resurgent relegation-haunted Majimaji. Simba travel to Arusha where they have to play against relegation potential candidates AFC at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium on Sunday. The Arusha top flight side has eleven points with four matches to play but is buoyed by a wide relegation web that covers six teams from the bottom of the standings table. Line-ups: Simba: Ali Mustafa, Juma Jabu, Haruna Shamte, Juma Nyoso, Kelvin Yondani, Nico Nyagawa/Musa Hassan, Patrick Ochan, Shija Mkina, Emmanuel Okwi, Mbwana Samata/Ali Ahmed, Jerry Santo. Coach: Patrick Phiri Ruvu Shooting: Yonatus Mbalimo, Patrick Kalambo, Revocatus Mariwa, Hamis Mariwa, Raphael Kyara / Mangasin Mangasin, George Assey, Ayoub Kitala / Prosper, Fullzul Maganga, Oscar Joshua, Hassan Dilunga and Juma Jumanne. Coach: Charles Boniface Referee: Abdallah Kambuzi, SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN