Ruvu Shooting lock horns with Mbeya City FC in VPL     

20Nov 2020
Michael Mwebe
Dar es Salaam
Sport
The Guardian
Ruvu Shooting lock horns with Mbeya City FC in VPL     

​​​​​​​THE 2020/21 Vodacom Premier League (VPL) resumes today with three matches as the battles at the top and the relegation zone intensify.

Ruvu Shooting defender, Juma Nyoso (R), challenges Simba SC winger, Luis Miquissone, when the clubs met in a Vodacom Premier League match at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam last month. Ruvu Shooting won 1-0. PHOTO; COURTESY OF TFF

The league gets back to action after the international break that paved way for senior national football team ‘Taifa Stars’ back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers matches against Tunisia.

In Dar es Salaam, Ruvu Shooting will look to continue their strong form when they host Mbeya City FC at the Uhuru Stadium in the afternoon, kick-off at 4pm.

Ruvu Shooting are unbeaten in their four home games this season, picking up two wins and draw in two matches.

Under head coach, Boniface Mkwasa, Ruvu Shooting claimed a third win from their last five league matches when they defeated Coastal Union 3-1 at home on November 1, thanks to goals netted by Mohamed Issa ‘Banka’, Fulgence Maganga and Eradius Mfulebe.

As a result, Ruvu Shooting have risen to fifth place in the VPL standing and are only four points behind the domestic top flight defending champions Simba SC, placed third in the log.

On the other side, Mbeya City FC broke a seven-game winless streak by claiming an emphatic 2-1 away victory over Kagera Sugar on October 24.

They have lost just once in the last six outings, yet the Mbeya side has still taken just seven of the last 24 points up for grabs. They need to improve and turn the draws into victories.

Speedy and skilful youngster, David Ulomi, and experienced Maganga will be the main players for Ruvu Shooting while Siraji Juma and in-form Dennis Kibu will be key for Mbeya City FC.

In head-to-head stats, Ruvu Shooting and Mbeya City FC have met in 12 league matches since 2013/14.

Each team has claimed three wins while six matches have been drawn in the rivalry.

In the capital city, Dodoma Jiji FC will entertain fourth placed Biashara United.

The home side's last game ended in a 3-0 defeat in the hands of Azam FC and are now down to 11th place.

A win for the visitors will see them go level on points with Simba SC who play on tomorrow.

Prisons will seek a home victory over Mtibwa Sugar at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Rukwa.

Coach Salum Mayanga’s charges will be eager to build on their previous home outing when they defeated struggling Ihefu FC 1-0.

Visitors Mtibwa Sugar come into this game having lost back-to-back matches and are down in 12th place and currently four points behind their hosts.

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