Yanga, Simba share spoils as Azam fires coach

• Yanga and Simba SC played to a 1-1 draw in the Kariakoo Derby
• Azam fire coach after just six matches in charge
• KCCA beat Vipers in Uganda’s own derby

A brilliant freekick from Stephen Aziz Ki saw Yanga come from behind to play to a 1-1 draw with arch rivals Simba SC in the Dar es Salaam derby over the weekend.

With the result, Simba and Yanga remain on 14 points after six matches in the league, though Simba sit top on goal difference.

Simba coach Juma Mgunda was happy with the fighting spirit shown by his players, but rued the many missed chances they had in the game.

“The players have fought all the time, the goal was to get three points but that was not the case. We went in knowing it would be a tough game and we did our best to control the opposition. In today’s game there were good things that we will improve so that we can do well in the next match and we will work on the shortcomings in training,” said Mgunda.

Simba started the match on a high and it took them just 14 minutes to get into the lead with some beautiful build up play that started from the back. Ghanaian Augustine Okrah changed passes with Clatous Chama, the latter sending him through on goal with a defense splitting pass.

Simba rewarded for good start

Simba and Azam in the derby. PHOTO/Simba

Okrah broke into the box and slid the ball under the keeper’s arms to give Wana Msimbazi a deserved lead.

But, Yanga slowly grew into the game and they scored the equalizer, Aziz Ki scoring a brilliant freekick from almost 35 yards out. Khalid Aucho was axed by Mzamiru Yassin and Ki stepped up from the resultant set piece.

The pre-season signing struck a brilliant scorcher from distance, curling the ball beyond the wall and into the top right corner.

The game was a see saw affair in the second half, but none of the two sides was able to add on to the score.

Elsewhere, Azam FC have fired their French coach Dennis Lavagne after just six matches in charge. The tactician lost half of the six matches he was in charge at the club and was fired after Azam lost 2-1 to Kinondoni Municipal Council in their Premier League match over the weekend.

In charge of six matches

Azam FC sacked coach Denis Lavagne. PHOTO/Azam

He was in charge of four league matches and two continental matches.

A statement from the club said the tactician, who was appointed on September 7, has been discharged off his duties as he failed to reach required targets.

“The board of Azam Football Club has terminated the contract with Denis Lavagne as head coach. The decision is in the wider interest of the club and the future of its technical development project,” said a statement from the club.

The Frenchman had signed a year-long contract at the club and one of the targets he had been given was helping the team reach the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup. Azam ended their journey in the second round.

Lavagne had been brought on board as a replacement to Abdihamid Moallin who was fired late August after a string of poor results.

The club has now announced that club legends Kali Ongala and Aggrey Morris will be in charge of the club until a substantive new coach is brought on board.

Meanwhile in Uganda, Kampala City Council emerged top from the Ugandan derby after beating defending champions Vipers SC 1-0 in Kampala. Vipers came into the match fresh from their historic win in Lubumbashi, where they beat Congolese giants TP Mazembe on penalties to progress to the group stages of the Champions League for the first time ever.

Mato scores solo goal of the match 

Action between KCCA and Vipers. PHOTO/KCCA

Rodgers Mato scored the winning goal just five minutes into the match when he beat the offside trap to sneak in with a diving header past the keeper.

The home side KCCA were the better starters and had more chances after the goal with Dennis Iguma having a clean shot go narrowly wide while the returning Allan Okello was a menace with his dribbles and passes.

In the second half, Vipers pushed in and gave all they could, but KCCA stood tall in defense to ensure they guarded their victory.

With the win, KCCA moves to fourth in the standings with six points after two wins in their first three matches while Vipers remain winless after two games, with a draw and a loss. Vipers have played fewer matches due to their involvement in continental competition.

BUL FC lead the standings with 10 points from four matches, having won three and drawn one.