Azam conquer Oljoro, Simba fall to Coastal
Simba SC forward Ramadhani Singano(right) makes his ways past Coastal Union defenders during their Vodacom Premier League match at the National Stadium yesterday. Coastal won 1-0. photo | michael matemanga
What you need to know:
- The Chamazi moneybags have moved four points clear of close challengers Yanga
Dar es Salaam. John Bocco late strike ensured Azam FC stayed hot in pursuit of their first Vodacom Premier League title after shooting down JKT Oljoro 1-0 at the Chamazi Complex yesterday.
The hard-fought victory means the Chamazi moneybags have moved four points clear of close challengers Yanga. They have so far accumulated 47 points from 21 outings.
Yanga, however, have a game in hand and can trim the gap to just a point in what promises to be a tight title race to the end. JKT Oljoro, who are struggling to move off the relegation zone, put up a solid fight that saw favourites Azam fail to unsettle the defence in the first half.
The home team came for the second half determined to get the points at stake, but had to wait until the 72nd minute when the long-serving striker utilised a half chance to send Azam fans into wild celebration.
At the National Stadium, visitors Coastal Union piled more misery on Simba SC after recording a shock 1-0.
Hamad Juma is the man Coastal Union should thank after the speedy forward planted the ball home with hardly a minute to the interval.
The defeat, 10th of the season, leaves the fallen giants in the fourth position and six points adrift of third-placed Mbeya City. The Zdravko Logarusic’s boys have garnered 36 points from 22 matches and have no chance of winning the title even if they bag maximum points from the four remaining games.
Simba kicked off the match on a high tempo, but Coastal Union, fielding a host of youthful players, adapted to the game and never looked back. They tie with Kagera Sugar on 29 points.
