SIMBA meet Mapinduzi Cup defending champions Azam today at Gombani Stadium in Pemba in a match the former seeking to revenge for a loss in the last edition\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n
The winner of the match will meet Mtibwa Sugar in the final. Mtibwa eliminated Yanga last evening\u00a0in the first semi final on penalties 4-2 after 90 minutes 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n
Looking determined to settle the 2-1 loss they suffered to Azam last year, Simba have reinforced their squad by bringing 10 regular players for today\u2019s epic semifinal.<\/p>\n
This will be the first time for Simba Belgian tactician, Sven Vandenbroeck who took over the team from his compatriot Patrick Aussems, to play Azam.<\/p>\n
Under Aussems Simba beat Azam in the both Community Shield\u2019 and first round Premier League games, a situation that makes today\u2019s game look tough and unpredictable.<\/p>\n
Simba opened their Mapinduzi Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Zimamoto in their group B match at Gombani Stadium in Pemba.<\/p>\n
Skipper John Bocco, Sharaf Shiboub and Ibrahim Ajibu scored the goals for Simba while Azam eliminated Mlandege SC.Obbrey Chirwa scored the winner for Azam during their 1-0 win over Mlandege SC in group A match.<\/p>\n
Vandenbroeck who previously opted to test many new faces that did not feature in the Dar es Salaam derby on January 4th , looks to reinforce the squad with ten players from the senior squad.<\/p>\n
The likes of Meddie Kagere, Francis Kahata, Muzamir Yassin and Jonas Mkude will be a good boost for Simba who are said to be targeting to clinch this year\u2019s title and end Azam\u2019s two-year dominance.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the match, Simba\u2019s Assistant Coach, Selemani Matola predicted a tough encounter today, but he is optimistic his charges will post positive results against their opponents.<\/p>\n
However Azam who have been very impressive in the previous Mapinduzi Cup editions, are seeking to stamp treble as they have already won it twice so far.<\/p>\n
This time, as it was in the last year\u2019s tournament, Mapinduzi Cup finals have been dominated by teams from Tanzania Mainland. No team from Zanzibar managed to play at the semifinal stage.<\/p>\n
Zanzibar fielded four teams; Mlandege, Jamhuri, Zimamoto and Chipukizi, but none of them advanced to the semis, hence letting teams from the Mainland dominate the semis and the final.<\/p>\n
2020 Mapinduzi Cup final will be staged at the Amaan Stadium on Monday January 13th.Meanwhile, Mwajuma Juma reports from Zanzibar that Simba Sc Manager Patrick Rweyemamu said ten players have arrived there special for today\u2019s game against Azam.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have now 26 players here after bringing 10 more for the match against Azam,\u201d he disclosed and added that their target is to lift this year\u2019s Mapinduzi Cup.<\/p>\n
But his statement was challenged by Azam\u2019s goalkeepers\u2019 coach Iddi Abubakar who said they are in Zanzibar to defend their title and they will defend it at any cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SIMBA meet Mapinduzi Cup defending champions Azam today at Gombani Stadium in Pemba in a match the former seeking to revenge for a loss in the last edition\u2019s clash. The winner of the match will meet Mtibwa Sugar in the final. Mtibwa eliminated Yanga last evening\u00a0in the first semi final on penalties 4-2 after 90 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":1706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8,17],"tags":[829,67,557],"class_list":["post-1705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-homepage-english","category-sport","tag-mapinduzi-cup","tag-simba","tag-simba-sc"],"yoast_head":"\n