Dominant Simba continued their inexorable quest to win the Mainland premier soccer league title as they floored relegation-haunted TotoAfrica by comprehensive 2-0 goals, in a 14th round match played at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, yesterday.
Two quick fire goals in the span of four minutes paralysed Toto defenders as the second half got underway to decide the nerve-jangling duel.
Five minutes after resumption Simba’s talismanic striker Musa Hassan broke the deadlock when he combined well with Nico Nyagawa.
Toto Africa defenders were caught perplexed as they failed to mark Ramadhan Chombo who caused another havoc barely four minutes later to send shivers into the hosts’ camp.
Toto Africa’s striker Sammy Kessi came closer to score after 24 minutes when he was put through by team mate Aboubaka Mnyambegu only to shoot wide with Simba custodian Juma Kaseja well beaten.
Toto deployed a tight defence as they marked Simba strikers throughout the first half and the team looked confident to hold the visitors.
Salim Aziz would have opened the score after 32 minutes only for Toto defender Laban Kabole who made a timely intervention to thwart the goal-bound ball.
Hassan or popularly known as Mgosi, shot over the cross bar ten minutes to the end of the first half, the second best serious raid attempted by the visitors.
The match in Mwanza was dominated by witchcraft beliefs as Simba boycotted the dressing room that was found stained with blood at the entrance.
The victory has placed Simba on the highly secured spot to win the scudetto while maintaining a 12-point gap over holders Young Africans in the premiership standings table.
Simba are on their way to play another premiership assignment against Kagera Sugar at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba for their 15th round match on Wednesday.
Line-ups:
Simba:
Juma Kaseja, Salum Kanoni, Juma Jabu, Juma Nyoso, Joseph Owino, Jerry Santo, Ramadhan Chombo, Nico Nyagawa, Musa Hassan, Emmanuel Okwi. David Naftal and Salim Aziz/Mohamed Kijuso (60th).
Coach: Patrick Phiri
Toto Africa:
Mohamed Aziz, Jacob Massawe, Laban Kabone, William Busweru, Tete Kang’ang’a, Mohamed Soud, John Bosco, Sammy Kessy/ Maulid Haniu, Abdul Juma, Sammy Kessi, Aboubakar Mnyambegu/ Buberwa Magayawe, Sunday Peter/ Joseph Kalindo.
Coach: Choki Abeid
Referee: Dominic Nyamisana
In Dar es Salaam, Relegation-haunted Afrcian Lyon battled to a barren draw with equally troubled Prispns FC in a match played at the Uhuru Stadium.
In Morogoro, Saidi Mkopi’s last-gasp goal with two minutes left on the clock floored visiting JKT Ruvu.
