Runaway leaders Simba are to maintain their Mainland premier soccer league’s lead at the end of the first half of the season early next month.
No matter what happens to the team whether they win or concede a loss of any margin, still they will be perched at the standings table with 27 points or more at the end of the season’s first half.
After nine rounds of play, Simba have perfected with hundred percent to open a massive nine-point gap over second place Young Africans, the title holders.
Simba, who will be tested to the limits by their rivals Young Africans at the National Stadium on Saturday, kicks off the match with psychological advantage of enjoying the driving seat after an exhilarating performance of the unfolding season.
Their next opponents after Yanga are Mtibwa Sugar, a side still in contention for the premiership title and the only team that have proved wrong Simba’s Zambian coach Patrick Phiri since he arrived in January.
Mtibwa chalked maximum points in their return leg tie (1-0) played at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro during the return leg of the previous season on March 14.
The road to win Mainland soccer title might be cleared by Simba should they maintain a rollercoaster show over Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar teams in the remaining matches of the season’s first half fixtures.
Should Simba beat both of the remaining opponents (Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar teams), then they will stretch their points tally to 33, while limiting the two teams to a 21-point mark.
Fourth placed Azam team that overstayed at the second spot for almost three weeks have their ceiling points limited to 21 at the end of the first half of the season and need to make effective resurgence in the second half next year.
Should any team need to embark on title chase to dislodge Simba, all efforts must be directed during the second half of the league kicking off mid January.
Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar are the only teams with an opportunity to halt Simba’s rollercoaster display though the Phiri coached side would still be at the helm of the standings for the next three months.
While Simba will be maintaining their premiership first half lead, stuttering Toto Africa need to work above the call of duty to disengage from the relegation hook.
With just four points ahead of their later yesterday’s game against JKT Ruvu, the Mwanza-based top flight side were supposed to post wins in the remaining matches while praying for other teams to slip up for them to move out of the relegation pool.
