JOHN Bocco scored a superb late goal as Simba snatched a hard fought 1-0 win over Tanzania Prisons at the Sokoine Memorial Stadium in Mbeya yesterday.
The victory, first for Simba against Tanzania Prisons at Sokoine Stadium since 2013, saw Joseph Omog’s lads open a three-point lead at the summit of the Mainland Premier League table.
Simba have now accumulated 22 points from ten games, three above their close competitors Azam FC, who were on the sidelines until today, when they play hosts to Njombe Mji at the Sabasaba grounds in Makambako.
The Msimbazi Reds are also five points above defending champions and rivals Young Africans, who are placed third and fifth placed Mtibwa Sugar, who have a game in hand each.
Both Yanga and Mtibwa Sugar will be in action today, with the former facing Mbeya City at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam and Mtibwa will be up against Kagera Sugar at the Manungu Complex in Turiani, Morogoro.
Omog made two changes in his usual starting line-up by introducing Yusuf Mlipili and Mwinyi Kazimoto, who replaced Ugandan duo of Jjuuko Murshid and Emmanuel Okwi respectively. And the team displayed superb footwork.
Tanzania Prisons started brightly and Simba survived a real scare in the 7th minute, when Mohamed Rashid cut clear past defenders but his fierce shot sailed narrowly wide.
Simba turned up the heat with a fierce attack three minutes later, when Shiza Kichuya was allowed pace and time to shoot but his grass cutter narrowly missed the target. Moments later, Kazimoto managed to burst forward before he shot wide from 25 yards after being set clear by Bocco.
It wasn’t the most rapid of hits but it had Prisons custodian Aaron Kalambo scrambling. Bocco was a constant menace to Tanzania Prisons defenders despite being tightly policed by Nurdin Chona and James Mwasote.
The lanky striker, outpaced defenders in the 16th minute but his feeble shot was easily gathered by keeper Kalambo. Simba were undoubtedly seeing more of the ball but whenever they lost possession, they dropped into a solid 4-5-1 formation with only Bocco staying up. It proved hard to break them down with Mlipili displaying a solid performance.
Kassim Hamisi pushed forward as Prisons responded with a little fight, but Mohammed Hussein matched him for pace and won the battle. Then, in the 21 minute, Rashid forced himself into the box but fouled James Kotei in the process.
In the 25th minute, Mlipili was forced to a full stretch cut out a cross from Salum Kimenya and two minutes later, Bocco flicked a Haruna Niyonzima’s set piece at the near post, but Laurian Mpalile was at hand to block his goal bound shot to a fruitless corner kick.
Simba missed an astonishing goal in the 34th minute. It started with Kazimoto, who dillydallied to take a shot, instead he squared a pass to Bocco, who also hit the air before the ball landed to Kichuya’s path but against the winger fluffed with a chance. After the break, Simba were still on the front foot and Muzamiru Yassin’s power packed shot in the 50th minute sailed over the bar.
Omog introduced Mohammed Ibrahim ‘MO’, for Niyonzima. His influence was growing and he had two shots which turned the game high. Laudit Mavugo and Ally Shomari also came in for Kazimoto and Yassin respectively, changes which benefited the side as they piled more pressure on the hosts’ goal. Their efforts paid off with six minutes to goal when Bocco took a sharp turn and scored a superb goal.
Mavugo had been allowed to sneak between defenders 25 yards out when Prisons defenders dropped the ball into Bocco’s path and the mistake made the home side pay. Goalkeeper Kalambo was also guilty for being slightly off positioned and was well beaten by Bocco’s instinctive shot.
His first touch instantly set things up on his right foot and it was a curler from the edge of the box into the far corner. It was a superb finish that left Kalambo with little chance.
In other games, Ruvu Shooting managed to secure their first league win in this season after defeating Ndanda FC 1-0 at Mabatini grounds at Mlandizi in Coast region. The victory enabled them to climb up from the bottom place to 14 on the log. Striker Abrahaman Mussa scored the solitary goal.
Stand United battled to a barren draw with Mwadui FC at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga, while at the Majimaji Stadium in Songea, host Majimaji FC slapped visitors Mbao FC from Mwanza 2-0.
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