Simba jeopardise CL chances
KAGERA: SIMBA and Kagera Sugar shared points, playing a 1-1 draw in NBC Premier League game at the Kaitaba Stadium in Kagera on Sunday.
The result gives Young Africans a chance to defend the league title, as they will need just one win to become champions. Simba opened the scoring through Ladaki Chasambi in the 24th minute, but Obrey Chirwa equalised for Kagera Sugar in the 62nd minute.
The draw means that Simba remains in third place with 57 points from 26 games. Azam are in second with 60 points from 27 games. In their yesterday’s game they won 2-1 against Kinondoni Municipal Council at Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam. Young Africans lead the table with 68 points from 26 games.
If they win their next game, they will have 71 points, which neither Azam nor Simba will be able to reach even if they win all their remaining games. If Azam and Simba win their remaining games, they will have 69 points each.
Therefore, Young Africans need just two points in their remaining four games to become champions.
In yesterday’s match between Kagera Sugar and Simba, the game was tight. In the second minute of the game, Simba almost scored a goal through Freddy Michael. He intercepted a pass from a Kagera Sugar defender who was trying to return the ball to the goalkeeper and he then dribbled past goalkeeper Alain Ngereka and shot but missed the target by just a few inches.
Simba netted in the 24th minute through Ladaki Chasambi, who scored a strong volley from a head pass by Sadio Kanouté.
Kagera Sugar started the second half strongly, and equalised in the 62nd minute through Obrey Chirwa who completed a corner set piece. Despite both teams’ efforts to score a winner, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Relegation battle intensifies In yesterday’s another NBC Premier League match, Tabora United defeated Mashujaa 1-0 at Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium. The victory came thanks to Erick Okutu’s goal, which was crucial for Tabora United as they had not won any of their previous six games. In their last six games, Tabora United lost four and drew twice.
This triumph has given Tabora United a total of 26 points in the 27 games they have played, elevating them from 15th to 14th place in the NBC Premier League standings, surpassing Geita Gold, who now sit in 15th place with 24 points from 26 games. Mashujaa, on the other hand, remains in 13th place with 26 points from 27 games.
However, they have a chance to move ahead of Geita Gold due to having more goals than Tabora United. Mashujaa and Tabora United still find themselves in a precarious position as they battle to maintain their positions in the NBC Premier League in the remaining three games.
If they finish the season in 14th and 13th place respectively, they will have to fight for their place in the NBC Premier League through playoffs. If they fall to 15th and 16th places, they will be relegated to the NBC Championship League. Mtibwa Sugar is currently at the bottom of the table with 20 points from 26 games.
They, along with Geita Gold, who are in 15th place with 24 points from 26 games, still have a chance to avoid relegation by claiming top places in the remaining games or by battling for a second chance in the playoffs.
Out of all the teams, Mtibwa Sugar is in the most dangerous spot, as they will be relegated to the NBC Championship League if they lose two of their remaining four games.
