By Flora Mkoloma
Simba SC secured a solid 2-0 win over KenGold in a Tanzania Mainland Premier League match held this Wednesday at the KMC Complex in Dar es Salaam.
The goals, both scored in the first half, came from Lionel Ateba. The first was a well-taken penalty in the 34th minute, and the second came just ten minutes later in the 44th, capitalizing on an excellent assist from Valentine Nouma.
These strikes ensured Simba took control of the match early on, with the scoreline remaining unchanged throughout the 90 minutes.
The second half saw both teams push for more goals, but neither was able to find the back of the net, resulting in a goalless stretch for the remaining 45 minutes.
Speaking after the game, Simba’s forward Kibu Denis expressed gratitude for the win and highlighted the importance of the three points.
“We thank God for this victory. It’s about the team’s success, not just individual goals. I could score, and we could still lose. The key is that we won,” said Denis.
Denis had also been instrumental in Simba’s recent CAF Confederation Cup match at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, where his goal secured a vital win against CS Sfaxien.
KenGold’s goalkeeper, Casto Mhagama, acknowledged the defeat gracefully, emphasizing that they had faced a strong opponent.
“We lost to a big team. Now, we’ll go back and prepare for the matches ahead,” Mhagama commented.
The win places Simba in second position on the league table with 31 points from 12 matches. KenGold, on the other hand, remains in a precarious 16th position with only six points from 15 first-round games.
As the league progresses, both teams will look to recalibrate their strategies for the upcoming fixtures.