AfricaPress-Tanzania: IT has been an extra drill for Dar es Salaam giants who have been locked in morning-evening build matches to ensure a quick recovery before the Premier League return this Saturday.
Uhuru Stadium, Azam Complex and Mo Simba arena in Bunju, Dar es Salaam hosted some of the hottest encounters.
Most notably include the maintained sharpness of Simba’s key hitman Meddie Kagere who scored one of the four goals in his team’s hefty 4-2 victory over Transit Camp at Mo Simba arena early yesterday.
Others who scored for Simba were Deo Kanda, Gerson Fraga and Tairone Santos while Hamadi Habibu and Nisile Kisimba netted the goals for Transit Camp.
But in the evening match at the same venue, Simba had brought in a complete new squad leaving most of the popular faces including Kagere.
The squad that faced KMC yesterday had Aishi Manula, Pascal Wawa, Jonas Mkude, John Bocco as regular players who played along with defender Kennedy Juma, Haruna Shamte, Saidi Ndemla and Shiza Kichuya.
KMC who punished Young Africans with 3-0 drub, were the first to score in the 30th minute through Charles Ilanfya before John Bocco netted the equalize four minutes later to make it 1-1 until the end of the first half.
It was in the 73rd minute when Simba’s towering striker Bocco proved to be still a lethal weapon for his club after netting his team’s second goal.
Substitute Ibrahim Ajib netted Simba’s third goal in the 88th minute to make it 3-1 at the end of the thrilling 90-minute showdown.
All the pre-league build-up matches, including the Southern Tanzania derby between Ndanda and Namungo FC seem to set a trailblazer of a flamboyant return to the action-packed premiership. Football fans, as seen in the match between Young African and KMC at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, are relieved to the return of sports activities.
While Simba played two matches in a span of four hours, KMC played their second match almost 24 hours after facing Yanga.
Prior to their match against Simba, Transit Camp gave hosts Azam a tough moment at Azam Complex on Sunday.
Azam were forced to a barren draw with the First Division League side despite fielding most of their key players including their Ivorian striker Richard Ella Djodi Daly.
Simba and KMC look to take the pre-league drill serious since the victories mean a lot to them.
Simba must win at least five matches to reclaim the championship title while KMC will be engaged to fight tooth and nail to avoid relegation which next season will see the number of Premier League reduced to 16 from 20 teams which featured in it.
An endeavor to remain in the top flight league was crystal clear on Sunday when KMC defeat Young Africans 3-0 in their friendly game at Uhuru Stadium, Dar es Salaam.
Goals from Sadallah Lipangile, Martin Ilanfya and Hassan Kabunda handed Yanga a big punishment before their fans.
Lack of complete fitness and team work brought misery to the former Premier League champions.
Still it was very clear that KMC were better drilled than Yanga and the 3-0 told everything loss.
It was Yanga’s first match since the suspension of sports activities on March 17, 2020 due to coronavirus scare.
KMC who looked well organised in all departments were leading 2-0 until the end of the first half and looked likely to add more goals in the second half.
Yanga were rattled, and even Ditram Nchimbi, later Yikpe Ghislain who replaced Tarick Kiakala and David Molinga who came in midway were unable to steady Yanga ship before Hassan Kabunda fired home the third goal in the 65th minute.
