Simba eye revenge on away ground
Will you have the last laugh today? Simba SC fans cheer their team during a recent league match. The Msimbazi Street giants take on Kagera Sugar at Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga. Photo | file
What you need to know:
The two sides were to clash on Saturday, but the match was cancelled and rescheduled for today because the pitch was waterlogged following a downpour.
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC face a tough task today when they play away to Kagera Sugar at the Kambarage Stadium in their rescheduled Vodacom Premier League match.
The two sides were to clash on Saturday, but the match was cancelled and rescheduled for today because the pitch was waterlogged following a downpour.
Simba, who are currently in the third spot with 32 points, visit uncompromising Kagera Sugar who have not lost to the Dar es Salaam giants in their last five meetings.
The Msimbazi Street heavyweights are therefore expected to approach the match aggressively. They will also be targeting to avenge the 1-0 loss they suffered in the first round at the National Stadium.
Kagera, who sit fourth with 28 points, will also be targeting to maintain their superiority over the Msimbazi boys and that is what makes the match mouthwatering and unpredictable.
Simba, trained by Goran Kopunovic, are eight points adrift of leaders Young Africans and seven behind second placed Azam FC, thus a win will help them bridge the gap.
The Serbian tactician confessed that Kagera Sugar pose a threat to his boys, but despite the unpredictability of the match, he harbours hopes of bagging three points.
Kopunovic said his team was in good shape to face the Bukoba side. They will miss the services of defender Kessy Ramadhani who pulled himself out of the team until his contractual demands are fulfilled.
“The morale is high at the camp; every player is motivated ahead of the match…I am aware of the threat Kagera poses, but the boys are ready for the challenge,” Kopunovic
Kagera Sugar coach Mrage Kabange issued a warning to the visitors not to expect victory in their “territory,” stressing that they were ready to humiliate Simba once again.
Kabange who had once played for Simba as winger, said that they would beat Simba the way they did to Mtibwa Sugar when they won 2-1 in their last game.
“Simba are no longer a force it used to be, so we are ready to collect maximum points on Monday (today),” he said.
While Simba depend on their striker Emmanuel Okwi, Kagera Sugar will be relying on their key marksman Rashid Mandawa.
Mandawa is one of the golden boot contenders, having scored nine goals behind Didier Kavumbagu of Azam who has 10 goals. Simon Msuva of Yanga lead the scoring chart with 11 goals.
