Simba SC reports clean bill of health ahead of Dar derby

14Apr 2023
Michael Mwebe
Dar es Salaam
Sport
The Guardian
Simba SC reports clean bill of health ahead of Dar derby

​​​​​​​SIMBA SC has a fully-fit squad available for Sunday's NBC Premier League clash against Young Africans SC, alias Yanga, slated to take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Simba SC footballers participate in a warm-up before the kick-off of a 2022/23 NBC Premier League tie that saw the side come up against Ihefu SC in Mbeya on Monday. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SIMBA SC

With center-back Henock Inonga and goalkeeper Aishi Manula now available after missing out Monday's 2-0 victory over Ihefu SC, Simba SC has no players in the treatment room for the second 'Dar derby' of the season.

After making six changes for the win over Ihefu SC, Simba SC head coach Roberto Oliveira 'Robertinho' is again likely to shuffle his pack as his squad looks to derail Yanga's league title coronation.

Manula, who had a shoulder problem, is now expected to return between the posts after third-choice goalkeeper, Ally Salim, was entrusted for the first time in the match against Ihefu SC.

With Inonga fit again, Kennedy Juma will drop down to the substitutes' bench while under-fire Kenyan defender, Joash Onyango, will retain his spot in the defense.

Shomari Kapombe and Mohamed Hussein are also likely to start at fullback. However, as local football supporters have seen, Robertinho occasionally likes to throw a curveball in the big games.

The good news is that if he wants to make an adjustment he finally has a full squad to choose from.

Israel Patrick and Gadiel Michael started against Ihefu SC and are available as options. In midfield, Sadio Kanoute will return to action after his three-match rest.

As one of the most used players this season, the Malian midfielder was rested against Morocco's Raja Casablanca in this season's CAF Champions League Group C clash and the subsequent back-to-back matches against Ihefu SC.

"Kanoute is not sick, he did not appear in the second leg of the CAF Champions League against Raja Casablanca, he did not appear in the quarterfinal against Ihefu SC and in the league as well, but he is fit and ready for Sunday,"  Simba SC Information and Communication manager, Ahmed Ally, confirmed.

Robertinho will come face to face with Yanga's head coach Nasreddine Nabi for the first time this weekend, as Simba SC and Yanga take part in the most eagerly awaited fixture in Tanzania's football calendar. 

Msimbazi Street-based Simba SC, also nicknamed ‘Msimbazi Reds’, comes into the match with an 18-game unbeaten run in the 2022/23 NBC Premier League while Yanga is on an even more impressive record of 12 successive league victories.

The Brazilian coach will be taking charge in the 'Dar derby' for the first time since his January appointment.

Simba SC has not tasted a league victory against Yanga since February 2019 when the former won 1-0.

That said, reigning league champions Yanga has already beaten Simba SC once this season- in the Community Shield- and drawn once in the league.

With an eight-point advantage over their second-placed rivals Simba SC, league leaders Yanga only need two more wins in the remaining five games to confirm their title defense and a record-extending 29th Premier League crown.

Top Stories