Kiiza inspires Simba to top place
Ndanda FC defender Paul Ngalema (left) and Simba forward Ibrahim Hajib vie for the ball during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday. Simba won 3-0. PHOTO|OMAR FUNGO
What you need to know:
The Jackson Mayanja’s men bagged the three crucial points thanks to Mwinyi Kazimoto who broke the deadlock and Hamis Kiiza who sealed the victory with a second half brace. Simba now top the 16-team premiership with 51 points after 22 matches followed by Young Africans with 50 and Azam FC (47).
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC fashioned their way to the top of the Vodacom Premier League with a 3-0 thumping of Ndanda FC at the National Stadium yesterday.
The Jackson Mayanja’s men bagged the three crucial points thanks to Mwinyi Kazimoto who broke the deadlock and Hamis Kiiza who sealed the victory with a second half brace. Simba now top the 16-team premiership with 51 points after 22 matches followed by Young Africans with 50 and Azam FC (47).
However, the resurgent Msimbazi giants have played a game more than Yanga and two more than Azam. The two outfits are not in domestic action due to CAF duties.
At Sokoine Stadium, Mbeya City who tumbled to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Simba on Sunday, bounced back with a convincing 2-0 mauling of Stand United.
Raphael Daudi opened the scoring in the 13th minute before former Simba forward, Haruna Shamte, doubled the advantage in the 48th minute to hand the Mbeya outfit a rare victory.
All eyes were, however, firmly fixed on the Simba-Ndanda match with Yanga and Azam fans praying for the Mtwara side to pull off a shock win.
Nonetheless, Simba showed a clear intention of winning from the outset, but had to wait until the 35th minute to take the lead.
Kazimoto, who is in red-hot form of late, controlled a well-angled pass from Hajib before slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
Ndanda FC came back into the game after the goal, but found it difficult to penetrate the Simba defence. Simba picked from where they had left off in the second half, launching a series of shock waves to the Ndanda area and their efforts paid off in the 57th minute when Kiiza headed home Hajib’s cross
The Ugandan sealed his brace in the 73rd minute when he calmly finished a pass from Danny Lyanga to take his season’s tally to 18.
Kiiza now tops the scoring chart followed by Yanga’s Burundian striker Amissi Tambwe who has 17 goals.
Line-ups
Simba: Vicent Angban, Hassan Kessy, Novaty Lufunga, Juuko Murshid, Justice Majabvi, Mwinyi Kazimoto, Jonas Mkude, Hamisi Kiiza, Ibrahim Hajib and Said Ndemla.
Ndanda: Jeremia Kisubi, Aziz Sibo, Paul Ngalema, Salvatory Ntebe, Hemed Khoja, William Elias, Omega Seme, Omar Mponda, Atupele Green and Kiggi Makassy.
