Simba bounce back to winning ways, punchy Yanga keep winning

• Simba SC had not won in two matches
• They thrashed Kagera Sugar 3-0
• Yanga have closed in on leaders Azam

Simba bounced back to winning ways after a 3-0 thrashing of Kagera Sugar. Wekundu wa Msimbazi had gone for two matches without victory, suffering a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of bitter rivals Yanga before being held to a 1-1 draw by Namungo.

This was also coach Abdelhak Benchikha’s first league game, and started off with victory.

“I am delighted with the boys and their performance. We played a good game and deserved to win. We are building up better now and I am looking forward to more positive results,” the coach said.

Goals from Saido Ntibanzokiza, Sadio Kanoute and skipper John Raphael Bocco gave Simba the much needed three points.

Burundian Ntibanzokiza broke the deadlock at the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot after he had been appended inside the box.

Just like the first half, the second half was tough for Simba, with Kagera pushing in to try get the equalizer.

However, in the 75th minute they got the second goal, the lanky Kanoute heading the ball home from the edge of the six yard box off a Mohammed Hussein cross from a short started corner.

In the first minute of added time, Bocco wrapped up the scoring for Simba when he raced to a short backpass before clipping the ball over the keeper.

Yanga draw closer to Azam

Yanga in action

Meanwhile, Tanzanian premier League defending champions Yanga SC moved a point closer to leaders Azam FC and with two matches at hand, with a well worked 4-1 thrashing of Mtibwa Sugar.

Stephane Aziz Ki scored twice with Kennedy Musonda and South African Mahlatsi ‘Skudu’ Makudubela adding the fourth.

Seif Abdallah Karihe scored Mtibwa’s consolation in added time.

The opening half was closely contested and Yanga had to wait till added time to break the deadlock when Ki scored from the spot after Clement Mzize was hacked down in the area.

He doubled his tally in the 65th minute with a brilliant goal, picking up Shomari Kibwana’s pass on the turn before nutmegging his next marker and rolling the ball into the bottom right.

Yanga made it 3-0 in the 75th minute with another brilliant goal, swinging a volley from inside the box after a cross from the left was nodded into his path by Jesus Moloko.

South African Skudu then marked his first ever goal in the Tanzanian top flight with a brilliant curling effort from distance that took a wicked deflection to take the ball off the keeper’s path.

Karihe then pulled one back for Mtibwa in the 94th minute with another wonder strike, catching the keeper off his line with a volleyed effort from almost halfway down the pitch.

Kenyan Baraza named Ihefu coach 

Francis Baraza unveiled by Dodoma Jiji

Elsehwere, Kenyan coach Francis Baraza has made a winning return to the Tanzanian top flight after his Dodoma Jiji side edged out Ihefu FC 1-0. Yassin Mohamed scored the sole goal for Dodoma in the 55^th minute to give the beleaguered side victory.

Baraza, who was fired by Kenya Police FC earlier last month took charge of the team this week, and only had one training session for the beleaguered Dodoma side. He was roped in, after his predecessor, Mellis Medo, was shown the door following a spate of poor results.

Prior to the victory against Ihefu, Dodoma had lost three matches in a row.

Baraza returns to Tanzania, having previously coached Biashara United and Kagera Sugar, before he returned to Kenya to coach Police. However, a tough start to the campaign with the law enforcers saw him shown the door and his place taken by Croat Zdravko Logarusic.

“I am delighted to return to Tanzania and hopefully we can achieve great things with the club. I know Tanzanian football very well and so it will not be difficult to get started,” Baraza said.