Simba clash with ailing Prisons as Premier League gathers pace
Simba players pay attention to their coach Juma Mgunda (right) during a recent game. Today's game between Simba and Tanzania Prisons at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium promises to be challenging. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The title battle is gradually narrowing down to a two-horse competition, but if Simba lose ground today, it will be challenging to unseat YANGA.
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC will meet Tanzania Prisons in the current NBC Premier League at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 6.15pm.
Given Simba’s current form and Prisons’ toughness, the match is expected to be tense.
Aside from the Simba-Prisons match, Singida Big Stars will face Geita Gold FC at 4pm at the Liti Stadium in Singida.
All matches are likely to be exciting, as all of them aim for maximum points to enhance their league standings.
Simba enter the contest as favourites after a convincing 3-1 win over Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) last Monday at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza.
However, it is not going to be a walk in the park for because whenever Tanzania Prisons confront the Msimabzi Street titans, they rarely lose. Simba will most likely struggle to secure three points in order to close the points gap with leaders Young Africans (Yanga).
Yanga lead the league standings with 47 points from 18 games, followed by Simba, who have 41 points, six points behind the former.
Azam FC are third with 37 points, 10 points behind Yanga, and Tanzania Prisons are 11th with 21 points after 18 matches.
“We are well aware that gaining control of Tanzania Prisons will not be easy. They are one of the league’s most tenacious teams. As a result, we are approaching this match with caution,” said Simba coach Juma Mgunda.
“All my players are in good shape, we have worked on all the mistakes that we made in our previous matches, and hopefully, we will collect three points as we continue to chase Yanga at the top,” he said.
Simba will be without their leading scorer Moses Phiri, who is out with an injury. Phiri also missed the most recent encounter against KMC, which was played in Mwanza’s CCM Kirumba Stadium.
Tanzania Prisons head coach Patrick Odhiambo conceded to face a formidable opposition, but voiced confidence that his men will play according to instructions and walk away with the maximum points.
Odhiambo stated that all of the players are in peak condition and ready to give their all in the match. “This is not an easy match. To win the match, my guys must flex their muscles. “We need three points as well,” Odhiambo remarked.
