Africa-Press – Tanzania. MAINLAND Premier League champion s Simba expect to paint red and white the 60,000 capacity Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam as they receive their fourth successive league title today.
The glittering event will come after their final match of the season against Namungo as such, the champions will be eager to provide double celebrations to their fans by winning the game.
Without doubt, Simba have had a great season which saw them doing well in all three major competitions they featured like the top flight league, Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) and CAF Champions League (CAF CL).
Apart from lifting the league title, the Reds are also set to play in the ASFC final hence another opportunity to bag one extra silverware to decorate their cupboard and make this season a big success.
Aside from that, they were too close to hit in the CAF CL finals and perhaps lift the biggest club football championship on the continent as their performance en-route to the quarter-finals stage was splendid.
However, today is simply a day of celebration for Simba family knowing that the hard work they did has finally paid off hence an opportunity to cherish and applaud themselves.
Some players in the Simba squad like Bernad Morrison, Larry Bwalya, Taddeo Lwanga, Chris Mugalu and Perfect Chikwende will be enjoying winning the major trophy at the club in their first season of service which is a great achievement for them.
“I urge more fans to come at the stadium and celebrate with us.
I will also give out my jersey. I am happy to win the trophy in my first season at this club,” said Ugandan midfielder Lwanga. Likewise, Head Coach Didier Gomes will be putting a wide smile on his face for successfully accomplishing the club’s primary target of the season which was to defend the league throne.
The Frenchman is therefore going to have two celebrations in a single day after being voted the best coach for June beating Young Africans coach Nasreddine Nabi and Azam’s trainer George Lwandamina.
This was the second time for Gomes to clinch the award after pocketing the same honour in April this year hence he has every reason to be the happiest coach today.
His skipper John Bocco is also going to celebrate twice as he won the best player for June after outclassing Feisal Salum (Yanga) and Idd Selemani (Azam).
He is also better placed to win the golden boot award as he so far leads with 15 goals while his closest pursuer Prince Dube for Azam has 14 goals to his name.
To ensure massive turnout of people to witness the colourful event, Simba have simplified entry charges to 3,000/- for ordinary seats, VIP B and C 10,000/- while VIP A will go for 20,000/- per head.
Unity and proper investment are among the key factors which have propelled Simba to maintain their league supremacy for the past four years and people are eagerly waiting to see if they will replicate the same feat next season.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) said Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Amos Makala will present the trophy to Simba soon after their final game of the campaign.
