By Our Special Correspondent
Simba have secured a third place in the Community Shield following a slim 1-0 win over Coastal Union at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
A first half strike by Salehe Karabaka awarded the Reds a priceless victory in a seemingly tough match that guaranteed them to end the marathon on third slot.
Steven Mukwala provided a timely assist in the 11th minute into the box which was initially missed by Joshua Muthale before Karabaka finished the job for the hosts.
It was a great move for the Msimbazi street based giants as they seized defensive flaws showcased by the visitors to record the lead.
His goal sustained throughout the match despite the Tanga based outfits pushing for an equaliser which was difficult to come until the last whistle sounded.
However, Simba suffered a blow in the 83rd minute when substitute Fabrice Ngoma picked a red carded for a second bookable offence and this time, Coastal Union piled pressure aiming to balance the equation.
Prior to facing Simba, Coastal Union went down 5-2 to Azam at New Amaan Sports Complex in Zanzibar while Simba lost 1-0 to their traditional rivals Young Africans.
At a post-match briefing, Coastal Union coach David Ouma said he analysed well Simba's match versus Yanga that is why they were able to withstand pressure of their opponents.
"We have a good team, we played well and what we need now is patience and we conceded a sloppy goal but we need to bounce back stronger," he said.
On his part, Simba coach Fadlu Davids hailed his side for the victory while insisting that they still have a lot to work on in the squad.
"It was perfect preparations, just few things to fix before the start of the new premier league season, we are still in the process of building a strong team, we have to be consistent throughout the whole season.
"We should not just concentrate on winning two or three matches but rather, focus in doing well not only in the league but also in the CAF Confederation Cup," he said.