Yanga, Simba back in local league actions
Yanga and Simba players fight for the ball during a past match.
PHOTO | FILE
Dar es Salaam. Following a holiday break of approximately 35 days, traditional giants Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba are set to return to local competitions as they participate in the Azam Sports Federation Cup at the end of this month.
Yanga will be in action tomorrow, hosting Hausing FC of Njombe in the 64th round of the Azam Sports Federation Cup at the Azam Complex at 7 pm, while the following day, Simba will be facing Tembo of Tabora at a venue to be revealed later.
Yanga’s last official competition match was on December 23 last year against Tabora United, held at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, while Simba faced Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) on the same day at the Azam Complex.
In the matches, Yanga won 1-0 while Simba recorded a 2-2 draw. The two teams also participated in the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar, where they featured mixed players.
The Azam Cup matches would also be a test for the two teams’ new players who have been recruited during the small window. Yanga, who are under the Argentinian tactician, will be testing new players, namely Augustine Okrah, Shekhan Ibrahim, and striker Joseph Guede.
The players will join others, namely Pacome Zouzoua, Maxi Nzengeli, Gift Fred, Jonas Mkude, Salum “Sure Boy” Abubakar, Khalid Aucho, and others who are in the team’s training camp.
The team will miss the services of players, namely Bakari Mwamnyeto, Ibrahim Bacca, Dickson Job, and Mudathir Yahya, who were with the national football team (Taifa Stars) that played in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast. The list also includes Kennedy Musonda, who featured on the Zambia national team; Stephane Azizi KI (Burkina Faso); and Djigui Diarra, who is with Mali.
Simba will be playing with new players Saleh Karabaka, Babacar Sarr, Ladaki Chasambi, Pa Omar Jobe, Freddy Michael Kouablan, and Edwin Balua in their match against Tembo.
The players who are likely to miss the match are Mohammed Hussein, Aishi Manula, Kibu Dennis, and Mzamiru Yassin, who just arrived from Ivory Coast.
Also on the list is Clatous Chama, who featured with Zambia’s national team in the Afcon.
