A TOTAL of 20 goals decorated the first round of the progressing 2022/23 NBC Premier League campaign with Simba and Mbeya City leading the marksmanship after netting three goals apiece to bag three points.
In all eight matches played, the 20-goal campaign makes an average of 3.3 per game.
For Simba, they have achieved much as they scored the goals without conceding following a deserved 3-0 defeat of Geita Gold at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday while Mbeya City conceded one goal in their 3-1 triumph over Dodoma Jiji at Liti Stadium in Singida.
The Dodoma Jiji- Mbeya City game, and that between Namungo and Mtibwa Sugar, stamped the biggest goal festivals of the opening season as four goals were netted to make the games end as the only four-goal thrillers.
Taking the scores upside down, it means the defensive line of Geita Gold and Dodoma Jiji have shown some weaknesses in the first round of the marathon as they have allowed many goals behind their net.
It is therefore not too late for the technical benches of these two clubs to sort out defensive woes they have displayed in their opening league matches ahead of the second round duels.
Moreover, the match between Namungo versus Mtibwa Sugar played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the city is the only game which ended in a draw and produced four goals as it elapsed in a balance of 2-2.
However, seven teams climaxed the opening round unscratched which are Ruvu Shooting, Singida Big Stars, Young Africans, Mbeya City, Coastal Union, Simba and Azam meaning that they have excelled to haul vital three points.
On the other hand, another package of seven teams like Ihefu, Tanzania Prisons, Polisi Tanzania, Dodoma Jiji, KMC, Geita Gold and Kagera Sugar have to pull up their socks in the next round to get back on the track after succumbing to defeats.
In terms of recorded passes, Simba have taken the lead after completing 402 passes during their match against Geita Gold and are seconded by Azam who had 345 passes whereas Young Africans scoop third place with 295 passes.
Also, Mbeya City occupy fourth slot with 265 passes without forgetting Ihefu and Singida Big Stars which have fulfilled 245 and 240 passes respectively.
On the other hand, Kagera Sugar and Ruvu Shooting are the two teams with least completed passes as they had 114 and 116 passed apiece. All eight fixtures played in the first round of the season have produced goal(s) since there was no match which concluded without shaking opponent’s net.
Again, Yanga have gone into record books for becoming the first team to miss a penalty this season after their top striker Fiston Mayele missed the spot-kick during their game against Polisi Tanzania while Simba and Coastal Union converted theirs through Clatous Chama and Mabruck Amza.
Meanwhile, the second round of the season will see Ihefu playing Namungo with the former looking forward to pocket their first premier league points of the unfolding season.
The Mbarali based side suffered a 1-0 defeat on the league opener from Ruvu Shooting at the suspended Highland Estates Stadium hence they have another opportunity to correct themselves and fetch for a convincing results against the Lindi based outfits.
