Tanzania: Ilala, Singida March Into Taifa Cup Quarters

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Zena Chande

11 May 2011

FORMER Champions Ilala led seven other regional teams into the quarterfinals of the 2011 Kili Taifa Cup after beating Manyara 1-0 in a low key match at the Jamhuri Stadium here on Wednesday.

Ilala, winners of 2007 and 2008 Kili Taifa Cup editions, was joined in the last eight by defending champions Singida, Mbeya, Ruvuma, Under-23 national side, Mwanza, Arusha and Kagera, as the coveted national football championship group stages wound up in six centres.

Ilala, needing just a point to reach the quarters, maintained their perfect record thanks to Omari Matuta’s unanswered first-half strike. The results mean that Ilala finished top of Group B, having collected a maximum nine points, from three outings.

Manyara, who were making their debut in the championship meant for Mainland regions, came into this game on the back to back defeats and ironically went out without notching a single goal despite winning a penalty yesterday.

Abdul Bakari was the culprit after he dispatched a poor shot that was comfortably stopped by Ilala shot-stopper Abdu Sefu. The Northern Zone boys, who produced eye-catching football in their opening games but bowing to Ilala’s vast experience in this closing game, would, at least, take consolation after their man Raymond Modesho was declared player-of-the-match to receive 100,000/- from tournament sponsors, Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL).

Elsewhere, ten-man Singida’s Kindai Shooting Stars put their title defence campaign intact with a 1-0 win over Kigoma in a group A match at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi in Tabora.

Msengi Selemani nodded home the all important goal for Singida as the holders marched into the last eight, scooping top spot in their group on seven points.

Singida, however, had to overcome a big scare after losing their industrious midfielder Rajabu Mohamed, who was given the marching orders for a reckless challenge on Kigoma player Omari Ramadhini as early as in the 10th minute.

Kigoma wasted their best chance to take something from the encounter when Patel Awan missed from the spot-kick with twelve minutes to go. Singida custodian Noel Lucas did well to save the penalty. Last year’s finalist Lindi failed to secure a quarterfinal slot despite their 2-1 triumph over neighbours Mtwara at Ilulu Stadium in Lindi.

Pius Kisambale put the winners ahead barely one minute into the game, when he rose to head into the back of the net Mohamed Samata’s inviting corner kick but Mtwara drew level in the 55th minute through Paul Ngalema.

Kisambale rammed in the winner on 66 minutes finishing off a stupendous work up by Abrahaman Musa, who danced past several Mtwara players before setting up the scorer. Host Mbeya went through after thrashing Rukwa 2-0 at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya.

Said Mtupa and Gaudence Mwaikimba were on target for the victors. The quarterfinal stage will be staged at the Sheikh Amir Abeid Stadium in Arusha from May 22.

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