The Tanzanian Premier League made a safe and successful return to competition over the weekend after a three-month break due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, with the focus quickly shifting to the title-hunt.
Log leaders and defending champions Simba SC kept their hunt for a hattrick of league titles alive despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Ruvu Shooting on the second day of action.
Shiza Kichuya gave the Wekundu wa Msimbazi an early lead, but they couldn’t hold on for long as Fully Maganga levelled the score for Ruvu eight minutes before the break.
Despite dropping two points, Simba retain a healthy lead in the standings with a 15-point buffer between them and second-placed Azam with nine rounds of matches remaining.
The 2014 league winners Azam were 2-0 winners over struggling Mbao at their Azam Complex home turf with goals from Richard Djodi and Shaban Chilunda helped the club hold second on the table.
Meanwhile, Yanga kept the push to try and finish second when they won by a slim 1-0 margin against Mwadui, Balama Mapinduzi notching the lone goal on the opening day of the league’s return on Saturday.
Yanga have played one match fewer than Azam and can bridge the gap with victory on Wednesday against JKT.
To avoid any further spike Covid-19, the Tanzanian Football Federation and the government undertook stringent precautions and health protocols in all the matches.
Fans were asked to sit at least one metre from each other, and every person had their body temperature taken before accessing the stadium. Hand sanitisers were also made readily available at various points across stadia.
The players also had their temperatures taken before going into the stadium, while substitutes on the bench had to observe strict social distancing guidelines and wore masks at all times.
In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo
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