- Simba beat JKU of Zanzibar 3-1
- Yanga thrashed Jamhuri 5-0
- Kenya’s Rupia scores for Singida
Simba and Yanga SC picked opening day victories at the Mapinduzi Cup in Dar es Salaam, as Kenyan striker Elvis Rupia continued to dazzle for Singida Fountain Gate with another goal.
Tanzanian giants Simba and Yanga won their opening matches of the tournament while Singida clinched their second victory to move closer to qualification into the quarter finals.
New signing Saleh Karabaka scored one of the goals as Simba SC beat Zanzibari side JKU 3-1 in their opening match at the Amman Stadium. The victory puts Simba at a good position to make the quarter finals after starting off on a winning note.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi broke the deadlock after just eight minutes through Moses Phiri. The Zambian scored with a deft finish from a tight angle after being played through on the left by Luis Miquisonne.
Simba were however stunned when JKU equalized through Neva Kaboma in the 42nd minute when his shot from inside the box came off a Simba defender and looping over the keeper.
In the second half, Simba increased their forays upfront and they went back into the lead in the 63rd minute when JKU defender Mohammed Hassan scored into his own net as he tried to cut out a Miquisonne cross from the right.
Karabaka then put the icing on the cake in the 65th minute, scoring against his former employers, his shot from the right which teased like a cross beating the keeper.
Simba defender Che Malone Fondoh was named man of the match for his imperious performance.
Simba defender Che Malone is man of the match
Simba defender Che Mallone Fondoh
“It wasn’t an easy match because they came to prepared like a final. We relaxed after scoring but sadly that’s not the reality of football. When we went to the dressing room, the coach told us what to do and we improved. We can’t manage to underrate anyone in the tournament,” said the Cameroonian.
Earlier on, their arch rivals Yanga SC made a thumping start to their Mapinduzi Cup campaign with a well-worked 5-0 thrashing of Jamhuri SC.
Chrispin Ngushi scored a brace for Wanajangwani, who made a statement of intent in their opening match in the island nation.
Ngushi scored his first after just 10 minutes, when he angled a header to the bottom right of the goal off a brilliantly delivered Dennis Nkane cross from the right. Just seven minutes later, he doubled his tally with a cool finish inside the box after the Jamhuri defense fumbled clearing a Clement Mzize cross from the right.
It went from showers to a storm for Jamhuri as Shomari Kibwana made it 3-0 for Yanga just after 22 minutes when he dragged a low shot past a helpless keeper, Mzize once again being the provider with a well weighted cutback from the right.
In the 37th minute, Mzize then turned from provider to scorer, adding the fourth with a brilliant solo effort, gliding past the defense and the keeper to score into an empty net.
Yanga finished the job at the stroke of halftime when South African Mahlatse ‘Skudu’ Makudubela scored a brilliant goal with a low shot from the left after being laid through by Nkane.
Kenyan Rupia scores again
Singida players celebrate their victory
Meanwhile, Kenyan international Elvis Rupia was on target once again, scoring one of the goals as Singida Fountain Gate thrashed Rwanda’s APR 3-1 in their second group match.
Rupia had netted twice and was named man of the match in Singida’s first game of the tournament, and he followed that up with another goal.
The former Police FC and AFC Leopards forward scored from the penalty spot, levelling the scores for Singida. Victor Mbaoma had given the Rwandese side the lead inside just two minutes with a brilliantly taken freekick that was won just 28 seconds into the game.
Singida battled well to rise from the early goal and after Rupia had equalized, they played with more confidence and dominance.
The two sides would go to the break tied at 1-1. Singida however had the last laugh with two late goals in the second half. They made it 2-1 with quarter of an hour to play, Moses Chukwu’s ferocious long range shot greasing through the keeper’s palms and into the net.
Francy Kazadi then made it 3-1 in the 86th minute with a tap in from close range off a cross from the left.
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