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GIANTS Simba and Young Africans maintained their winning streak and perfect start into the Premier League after winning their respective matches on Saturday.
Simba, who are the defending champions, came from behind to beat Azam FC 1-2 at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, while Yanga had an easy ride, winning 0-2 against hosts AFC Arusha at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium.
Stylish midfielder Ramadhan Chombo scored against his old team after 16 minutes, connecting home an inch perfect cross from former Yanga mercurial winger Mrisho Ngasa, but after a slow start into the game Simba fought back to level the score a minute before the break through Nicodemus Nyagawa.
The hard working midfielder received a defence splitting pass from central defender Joseph Owino, before cutting through a bush of defenders only to beat the keeper with ease. Musa Hassan Mgosi lived to his billing after the last season’s top scorer grabbed a winner for Simba just after an hour mark.
The Msimbazi Street team’s marksman promised to ignite the race to defend his ‘Golden Boot’ against Azam FC. The match was a see saw affair and Azam FC were forced to go a man down, when towering striker John Bocco was given matching orders just after 13 minutes, for a crude foul on Owino.
Simba’s Uhuru Selemani was also sent off for a second bookable offence. It was Simba’s second straight victory in the league. They won 2-0 against African Lyon in their opening match on August 21. In Arusha John Mhala reports that Yanga cruised to an easy 0-2 win against light weight AFC.
Sturdy midfielder Abdi Kassim put Yanga ahead two minutes before the break, who connected home Shadrack Nsajigwa’s cross. However, AFC players bitterly protested against the goals, suggesting that Kassim had handled the ball before scoring.
Match referee Thomas Mkomboyi from Kilimanjaro was forced to flash yellow card on Hilary Bingwa of AFC for abusive language. Striker Jerrson Tegete missed from a penalty spot in the 73rd minute.
He saw his shot parried off by keeper Saidi Omari to a fruitless corner kick. With three minutes remaining before the final whistle, Yanga netted the second through Idd Mmbaga, who blasted home from a rebound after the keeper parried off Nsa Job’s earlier effort.
