Tanzania: Simba Roar Past Motema Pembe

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

12 June 2011

10-man Simba took a slender advantage towards qualifying for the mini-league stage of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup against DC Motema Pembe of DR Congo following a 1-0 first leg victory at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Striker Musa Hassan ‘Mgosi’ scored the only goal of the game when the long-serving forward found the net seven minutes from the first whistle, connecting home a brilliant square ball from Emmanuel Okwi.

While Simba will be satisfied with the win, as their Ugandan tactician Moses Basena revealed after the match, they would have preferred to take a more commanding lead to Kinshasa for the return fixture.

Simba, seeking to reach the group phase of the continental second tier club championship, will need at least a draw in the return leg next Saturday to reach that goal. They can also make it to the group stage if they concede a defeat of not more than one-goal difference .2-1, 3-2.

The second leg takes place in two weeks time at 80,000-seater capacity Stade des Martyrs Kinshasa, in what marks Simba’s second outing in DR Congo after the Champions League trip to TP Mazembe in which they suffered a 3-1 reserve.

With the expectant crowd behind them, Simba launched several raids into the half of their Congolese visitors early in the game and Emmanuel Okwi, Shija Mkina and Mgosi had chances to open the scoring before the latter succeeded to put his team ahead.

Despite the defeat Motema Pembe enjoyed the lion’s share possession and displayed some sexy football. But it was the team’s defender Feugang Takudjo who was the centre of attraction with his somersault throw-in style, which frequently caused Simba problems.

The visitors were quick on the offensive after the restart but ended up winning an abortive corner before Simba launched their own attack when Amir Maftah and Okwi combined well but the final product was not up to scratch.

Bogota Labama beat Simba defender Haruna Shamte before releasing a nice cross that found Ilongo Ngasanya inside the box but his well directed header was daringly saved by Simba custodian Juma Kaseja.

Motema Pembe wasted another glorious chance to level the score in the 64th minute after Labama dilly dallied with the ball following an inviting cross from Salakiaku Matonda, only to allow Simba defence reorganize and clear the danger. Simba went down to 10 men when Shamte was shown a straight red card in the 65th minute for a studs-up challenge on Motanda.

Simba coach Moses Basena was forced into reshuffling his pack as he brought in Juma Jabu in place of Nico Nyagawa and later on right back Salum Kanoni replaced Mgosi.

Craving for an equalizer, DC Motema Pembe coach Andy Fitula also tried to rejuvenate his squad with fresh legs calling in Diavita Dama, Tusilu Bazola and Inasawa Mfumo, with Landu Makela, Kisoembe Maukutima and Salakiaku Matonda all taken off.

Both teams made several attempts thereafter however they could not alter the scoreline as Nigerian referee Solomon Wakoma blew the final whistle.

Simba: Juma Kaseja, Haruna Shamte, Amir Maftah, Juam Nyoso, Kelvin Yondan, Amri Kiemba, Shija Mkina, Nico Nyagawa/ Juma Jabu, Emmanuel Okwi, Musa Hassan ‘Mgosi’/ Salum Kanoni, Mohamed Banka.

DC Motema Pembe: Matambi Ley, Ungenda Bobo, Masombo Lino, Feugang Takudjo, Bokese Gladys, Landu Makela, Nkanu Mbiyakanga, Kisombe Maukutima, Bokota Labama, Ilongo Ngasanya, Salakiaku Matonda.

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