SIMBA have breathed a sigh of relief after their Sunday’s Mainland Premier League match against Lipuli of Iringa shifted back to Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Early this week, the Tanzania Premier League Board (TPLB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boniface Wambura announced that this weekend’s league matches that were to be played at the Uhuru Stadium will relocate to Azam’s Chamazi Complex.
This is because the government, which is the stadium owner, had told the TPLB that Uhuru Stadium would not be available this weekend because it would be used for other activities. The decision did not augur well with the Dar es Salaam giants – league leaders Simba and defending champions Young Africans.
While Simba officials kept mum, Yanga officials had openly vented their concerns but went ahead and said they would honour the decision and play at Chamazi anyway.
However, as the clubs were still figuring out what is happening, Wambura said yesterday that the Sunday’s match pitting Simba and Lipuli will now return to Uhuru Stadium after getting a green light from the government.
“We’ve received a letter from the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports that the venue will now be free to host the Sunday’s match,” Wambura said.
However, there will be no changes for tomorrow’s match to pit third placed Yanga and Tanzania Prisons of Mbeya and the match will be played at the Chamazi Complex.
Yanga have posted 20 points from ten outings. A win will see the defending champions taking the top seat may be for some hours because the following day, league leaders Simba will play host to Iringa’s Lipuli and victory or draw will see them back on the driver’s seat.
Simba sits top of the log with 22 points same as Azam FC, thanks to superior goal difference. The battle won’t finish there as Azam will face a great test when they welcome Mtibwa Sugar at the Azam Complex.
Last weekend’s results, makes this weekend’s games more vital for all Simba, Azam and Yanga, who are in a stiff battle for the top position, to ensure they have total control of the league before it comes to a break, to pave way for the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, which kicks off on December 3 to 17 in Kenya.
The league continues tomorrow with five other different venues being in action as Ndanda FC will host Njombe Mji at the Nangwanda Sijaona Stadium in Mtwara, whereas Singida United will welcome Mbeya City at the Namfua Stadium in Singida.
Mbao FC will be at the CCM -Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza playing against Mwadui FC after being away for couples of matches, while the bottom placed Stand United will travel to Kagera to face rejuvenated Kagera Sugar at the Kaitaba Stadium.
The day will also see Ruvu Shooting host Majimaji at Mabitini ground in Mlandizi, Coast region. In another development, TPLB has slapped a three-match ban on Azam FC Head Coach, Aristica Cioaba, allegedly for misconduct.
The Romanian tactician has also been fined 500,000/- for his actions against match officials during their Premier League match against Ruvu Shooting held at the Azam Complex. TPLB has also imposed similar ban and fine to Tanzania Prisons player, Benjamin Asukile, who had marching orders during the game against Kagera Sugar, after elbowing an opponent.
The board has also issued a strong warning to Tanzania Prisons for being represented at the bench with an official who was different from the one who had attended a pre-match meeting in their game against Kagera Sugar at the Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba.
Prisons were represented by their manager Erasto Ntabah but during the match, Hassan Mtege sat on the team’s official’s bench.
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