Three arenas light up league’s 19th round
THREE fixtures light up the 19th round of the Premier League as six teams battle for maximum points to award their fans deserved New Year packages today.
The stand-up encounter unfolds at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam where Simba host Tanzania Prisons in a tense match with both sides confident to end heads up.
Other games proceed at Liti Stadium in Singida where Singida Big Stars welcome Geita Gold while at Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma, hosts Dodoma Jiji entertain Kagera Sugar.
Already, Simba caretaker coach Juma Mgunda has predicted a tough match against Tanzania Prisons saying they are a great team with competitive players as such; the game won’t be easy.
“I always say that there is no easy encounters in a league match because even the opponent you are facing, they too are looking forward to grab maximum points at the end of the duel.
“As such; all vital precautions for this match have been taken into consideration and in terms of preparations, I can say my players are fit for the match, we just need to pray that they wake up in good health tomorrow (today),” Mgunda remarked.
About whether the newly signed player Saidi Ntibazonkiza could make his debut, Mgunda insisted that once a player lands at the club, he becomes legitimate hence could be featured at any moment to execute his responsibilities.
On his part, Tanzania Prisons skipper Benjamin Asukile said they have had enough preparations to face Simba and are all set to stage good resistance in order to get positive results.
“We have put to bed what transpired in our previous games, our focus now is on Simba and we are aware that they are a great team with quality players capable to change the game any moment as it unfolds but that does not scare us.
“We are ready to receive any outcome to be generated at the sound of the final whistle and we have asked God to get tangible results, so everything is in his hands,” he remarked.
A win will see Simba trimming the current 6-point gap with leaders Young Africans to 3 points as they attain 44 points from 19 matches hence marching into 2023 with chest up for the good job well done.
For Tanzania Prisons, they are too eager to generate something from the tense duel orchestrated by a pledge from one of their sponsors that if they win, they will be awarded 30m/- and a draw sees them collecting 10m/-.
So far, after 18 matches, the Mbeya-based giants are placed on 11th slot with 21 points and a victory could claim them 24 points after 19 assignments.
