Africa-Press – Tanzania. SIMBA and Ruvu Shooting will square off in the Mainland Premier League match at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza today, with each side seeking maximum points.
The Msimbazi Reds will be keen to stretch their lead at the league summit to six points, if they manage to outclass Ruvu Shooting today.
It will be a revenge mission for Simba, who suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Ruvu Shooting when the two sides met in the first round at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam on October 26th 2020.
Full Maganga netted the solitary goal to punish the defending champions. It is from this backdrop that makes tomorrow’s match thoughtprovoking and football fans are eager to see how the Reds will react this time around.
Simba have already arrived in Mwanza ahead of the battle, knowing that maximum points will be crucial for them to close in on the league title.
Sitting top of the league table on 64 points from 26 matches, Simba need to win the next four league matches to retain the league title.
They are three points ahead of second placed Young Africans, who have played 29 matches and have five matches to go.
Again, Simba have scored 61 goals, more than any other team in the marathon and have conceded 11 fewer that all other teams, meaning their 50 goal difference is superior compared to all other teams.
This has been one of their best seasons as they look sharp and strong to retain the silverware for the fourth time in a row.
Simba Head Coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has frequently said that they aim to win the league title and from the trend of the contest, they are on the right path to achieve that.
The Frenchman is yet to taste a league defeat after taking over coaching responsibilities from the former coach Sven Vandenbroeck midway into the season.
Coincidentally, they face a winhungry team, which also want to bag maximum points to enable them stay comfortable on the log and avoid possible playoffs and relegation.
Placed tenth on the table with 37 points is not much safe for Ruvu Shooting, since other teams behind can easily surpass them, if they succeed to win their remaining matches.
For instance, Mtibwa Sugar and Ihefu which both have 34 points from 30 encounters can knock off Ruvu Shooting from the tenth slot if they stamp victories in their remaining assignments.
Again, other teams like Kagera Sugar, Mbeya City, JKT Tanzania and Coastal Union which occupies 13, 14, 15 and 16 slots respectively, each has collected 33 from 30 matches, while Coastal Union have played 29 games with one match in hand.
Keeping that in mind, the today’s game is going to be tough and exciting.
Meanwhile, Namungo and Tanzania Prisons battled to a 1-1 draw in their Mainland Premier League game at the Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa, Lindi yesterday.
Tanzania Prisons broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute through striker Jeremia Juma but the home team pulled level through Abeid Athuman nine minutes before the final whistle.
Following the results, Namungo and Tanzania Prisons tied on 41 points from 30 outings each but are separated on goal difference.
However, Prisons continue to settle in the seventh slot of the log with Namungo sitting on the eighth position.
