Toto African look to boost survival bid

TOTO African head coach Tim Jost is confident his side can secure maximum three points against Kagera Sugar as the two teams clash in a Vodacom Premier League encounter at CCM Kirumba here today.

Toto enjoyed a 2-0 win away to Kagera Sugar in the first round fixture and Jost is looking for a double success against Mecky Maxime’s charges this season. Speaking on his team’s preparation ahead of today’s encounter, Jost said he has a full-fit squad and was optimistic his lads will do the job and take home all three points and boost their survival bid.

Toto African still relinquish in the drop zone, sitting third bottom on 21 points from 22 outings. A win against Kagera Sugar would see Jost’s side climb up two places, rising above African Lyon (22 points) and Ndanda (23 points).

Toto face a tough relegation battle and Jost acknowledged they must in most of their remaining eight matches to have any chances of staying up. “My players should not lose hope they should play every match like a final because we are not in a good position.

We should win every match that is ahead of us and we are capable of doing that,” he added. In their last two matches, Toto African lost 1-0 to Ruvu shooting 1-0 at CCM Kirumba and played out a barren draw away to Ndanda.

Jost said they have worked on mistakes that led to their home defeat against Ruvu shooting and expects his players to put up strong performance against Kagera Sugar. “We have been letting in soft goals and it has cost us a lot.

Even in our last defeat against Ruvu Shooting my players allowed an easy goal in the late minutes,” he said. Jost insisted that his main objective is to ensure Toto African remain in the top flight league next season and vowed to fight relentlessly. Toto Africans have won only five games, drawn in six games and lost eleven.

Fever rises for Simba, Yanga derby

FOOTBALL fans across the country cannot wait for the intriguing derby between traditional archrivals Simba and Young Africans – a game both camps crave to win as Premier League title race enters crucial phase.

After respectively excelling in CAF Champions League and Azam Sports Federation Cup, holders yanga and Simba, will be out to make big statements in the title race on Saturday.

As derby fever rises, young Africans opted for a low-key game with Ngaya de Mde in their return leg of CAF Champions League, preliminary round tie so as to reserve energy for next Saturday’s derby match against Simba.

young Africans were the shadow of the side that cruised to an emphatic 5-1 first leg win away to the Comoro minnows in Moroni as the Mainland envoys were made to fight for a 1-all draw at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

It was apparent that the Jangwani Street lads had an eye on next weekend’s potential title decider against archrivals Simba, and banking on their massive first leg win, they opted to slow their tempo on Saturday’s return fixture.

young Africans assistant coach Juma Mwambusi admitted that his side went into knowing their place into the next round was secure and looked beyond that as a crucial showdown with their title-rival Simba beckons.

Mwambusi said it was important for them to avoid injuries and reserve energy ahead of the crucial game against the Reds at the National Stadium. “We didn’t need to use a lot of energy while we’re certain of qualification into the next round; the most important thing for us was to avoid injuries.

We need to be in the best shape possible for the game against Simba. “It is a very important game for us and we must win it,” said Mwambusi, whose side are expected to cross the Ocean to Pemba Island for residential camping in preparation for the highly-anticipated derby clash. Simba lead the title race on 51 points from 22 outings, two points ahead of yanga, who however, have a game in hand. Whoever wins will take control of the title race.

In preparation for Saturday’s encounter, Simba, who booked a Federation Cup quarterfinal berth with a 1-0 over African Lyon last Thursday, instantly moved to the spicy Island of Zanzibar, their common hunting ground for the derby match.

Taifa Jang’ombe thrash hapless Kilimani City

TAIFA Jang’ombe went rampant to hit Kilimani City 4-1 in a one sided Zanzibar Premier League (Unguja Zone) on Friday at the Amaan Stadium. Ali Badru grabbed a hattrick while Metta Aping scored one to steer his team to a massive victory.

Until the break, Taifa Jang’ombe were leading 1-0, a goal netted by Badru in the 22nd minute. On the restart, Aping netted the second goal in the 49th minute before Badru put the game beyond Kilimani’s reach with a third goal two minutes later.

However, Aboubakar Ahmed reduced the margin in the 64th minute, but there was still time for Badru to score the fourth goal three minutes before the final whistle. Following the results, Taifa Jang’ombe reached 32 points but still remained seventh on the log, while Kilimani City are placed 13th on 22 points.

JKU, who beat Chuoni 3-2 at the same venue on Wednesday still sit top of the table on 48 points. Jang’ombe Boys are placed second on 39 points, while in third place are defending champions Zimamoto on 37 points.

Majimaji vows to avoid relegation

LEADERS of the Ruvuma based Majimaji FC have vowed to make sure their team will battle to win the remaining matches and avoid Mainland Premier League relegation.

Speaking here during the training held at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza yesterday ahead of their league clash against Mbao FC at the same venue today, Majimaji’s Secretary General Zakaria Ngalimanayo said a win is a must.

“We will fight to the end and make sure we win all remaining eight matches to escape relegation,” he said. After their tie against Mbao, the Songea lads will travel to Kagera to face Kagera Sugar at the Kaitaba Stadium on March 4th, this year.

He also thanked the team’s sponsor - Ghalib Said Mohamed (G.S.M) for their great help. “They have really been of great help to the team, providing salaries and accommodation to players and technical bench,” he said. He also called upon Ruvuma football fraternity to unite and support the team in remaining fixtures, so as they fulfil their dream of staying in the league.

The 1998 Mainland Premier League champions are placed 13th in the table after gathering 22 points in their last 22 outings. Majimaji have netted 14 goals and have conceded 30 goals. They have won six games, three draws and lost 13 matches. Majimaji will now play four matches in away stadium against Mbao, Kagera Sugar, JKT Ruvu and Ruvu Shooting.

Yanga reserve energy for Simba

YOUNG Africans battled to a 1-1 draw against Comoro’s Ngaya de Mde in their CAF Champions League return leg preliminary round clash at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
It seemed as if the Jangwani Street lads were reserving energy for their next weekend’s Mainland Premier League clash against archrivals Simba, as they slowed down their tempo yesterday. Despite the draw, Yanga progressed into the first round of the continental top tier clubs championship on 6-2 aggregate.
This follows a 5-1 away win over Comoro side Ngaya in the first leg of their preliminary round tie a week ago. Goals from Justin Zullu, Simon Msuva, Obrey Chirwa, Amissi Tambwe and Thaban Kamusoko apiece wrapped a massive win for Zambian George Lwandamina’s side at the Stade de Moroni.
In the first round, Yanga will face Zambia’s Zanaco, who dumped out Rwandan champions APR. Zanaco won 1-0 in the return leg clash at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda yesterday. The two sides settled for a goalless draw in their first leg clash in Lusaka last Saturday.
The first round ties will be played next month over two legs on the weekend of March 10-12, with the return match scheduled a week later. In the match, the Comoro Island champions were facing an uphill task to overturn a massive defeat they suffered in-front of their supporters in the first leg tie in Moroni.
To eliminate Yanga from the continental tournament, the visitors were required to score four unanswered goals.
It was certainly difficult for them, especially with Yanga playing at home with thousands of their supporters backing them. However, to the surprise of many at the venue, the visitors took the lead in the 19th minute, through Zahir Mohammed, whose power packed shot beat goalkeeper, Deogratius Munishi.

Yanga CAF opponent Ngaya arrive

YOUNG Africans opponents in the CAF Champions League, Comoro’s Ngaya de Mde jetted into the country yesterday, ready for their preliminary round, return leg match to be held at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam tomorrow.

The Comoro Island champion face an uphill task, as they need to overturn a 5-1 defeat they suffered in-front of their supporters in the first leg tie in Moroni last Sunday. Goals from Justin Zullu, Simon Msuva, Obrey Chirwa, Amissi Tambwe and Thaban Kamusoko apiece wrapped a massive win for George Lwandamina’s side at the Stade de Moroni.
 

The Tanzanian champions, who returned home from Moroni on Tuesday now have a comfortable lead to take into what appears to be a mere formality return fixture. To eliminate Yanga from the continental top tie tournament in club level, the visitors will need to score four unanswered goals.

It will certainly be difficult for them, especially with Yanga playing at home with thousands of their supporters backing them. However, the Jangwani Street lads will go into the match without the services of several key players -- Donald Ngoma and Amis Tambwe, who are both nursing injuries.

They will also miss the service of their Rwandese maestro midfielder Haruna Niyonzima, who is reportedly sick. Commenting on the game, Yanga Assistant coach Juma Mwambusi insisted that they will not get carried away by the mammoth first leg win. “It is not over yet, we beat them at home and they can come with a different approach

Mavugo sends Simba to last eight

SIMBA eased into the last eight of Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) after edging out African Lyon 1-0 in their round of 16 tie at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

Burundian striker, Laudit Mavugo scored the only goal of the match in the 57th minute, in a match largely dominated by Simba side, who squandered many scoring chances. However, Simba’s Cameroonian tactician Joseph Omog would be pleased with his side’s passage into the quarter-finals of the reinstated Federation Cup.

The game followed similar script to the previous encounter between the two teams in terms of possession. Simba enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but without turning their dominance into result as the first half ended in goalless draw.

During their last meeting, a league game in November, Lyon produced a solid defensive performance before upsetting Simba with a last-gasp winner. But Charles Otieno’s boys this time opted for open game, but maintained their defensive discipline for most part of the encounter.

Cameroonian goalkeeper Rostand Youthe was a solid rock between the posts throughout the encounter and denied Simba attackers a couple of chances with stunning saves. Simba expectedly were on the offensive from the word go and created a couple of half chances early on without testing Youthe. Their first attempt on goal came after 13 minutes courtesy of Said Ndemla, whose shot from outside the area was easily saved by the Lyon keeper.

Yanga out to hit CAF ground running

MA I N L A N D c h a m p i - ons Young Africans will be targeting to hit the ground running when they face Comoros champions Ngaya de Mde in their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie today in Moroni.

Yanga jetted off yesterday morning to Moroni in time for the first leg clash at the Stade de Moroni. A total of 20 players and eight members of the technical bench plus two officials left ahead of the match.

The club’s General Secretary, Charles Boniface Mkwasa, told journalists on Friday that seven players have not been included in the list of 30-strong contingent to Moroni due to various reasons. Zimbabwean striker Donald Ngoma and defender Vincent Bossou have not been included in the trip to Comoro.

Simba, Lyon lock horns in last 16

GIANTS Simba face a banana-skin test as they entertain unpredictable African Lyon in the last 16 tie of Azam Sports Federation Cup (ASFC) round at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam this afternoon.

Stars coach plots CHAN success

NATIONAL soccer team, Taifa Stars interim head coach Salum Mayanga has presented a six-month programme, which seeks to prepare the side for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers.

Yanga will not be carried away - Coach

YOUNG Africans will not get carried away by the mammoth 5-1 first leg win over Comoro side Ngaya Club de Mde in their African Champions League preliminary round tie, assistant coach Juma Mwambusi has said.