Simba Sports Club continued basking in their glory of winning Tanzania’s Vodacom Premier League after bagging a cheque of Tsh100 million (about $43,213) from its main sponsor, the betting firm, Sportpesa.
The windfall capped a joyous few days as Simba also defeated league title challengers Azam FC 2-0 on Tuesday to qualify for the semifinals of the Azam Sports Federation Cup.
Simba won the league on June 28 following a goalless draw away against Tanzania Prisons.
Simba has an unassailable 19-point lead with six games remaining over second-placed Young Africans who defeated struggling Ndanda and leapfrogged third-placed Azam who drew 1-1 against Biashara Mara United.
Azam who began the match week in second place needed to win to maintain their very slim hopes of beating Simba to the title.
Deus Kaseke scored twice while Mrisho Ngassa netted the winner for Yanga in a thrilling game at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Abdul Hamis and Omary Mponda had given the visitors a shock 2-1 lead with barely 15 minutes on the clock.
🏆 Mabingwa wa Ligi Kuu ya Vodacom 2019/20 🏆 #VPL #NguvuMoja pic.twitter.com/Rfr394baBP
— Simba Sports Club (@SimbaSCTanzania) June 28, 2020
Gershon Kabeja’s 90th-minute equalizer canceled out Frank Domayo’s opener as Biashara Mara United held Azam, who for a while now were simply delaying Simba’s confirmation as league winners.
In other games, bottom-of-the-table Singida United lost 3-2 to Lipuli while Ruvu Shooting and Namungo played out a 1-1 draw as did Kagera Sugar and 10-man Kinondoni MC. Mwadui and Alliance recorded 1-0 wins over Mtibwa Sugar and Coastal Union respectively.
Peter Mapunda and Patson Shigala were both on target for Mbeya City who defeated JKT Tanzania 2-0 while second-from-bottom Mbao FC stunned Polisi Tanzania 1-0 thanks to Junior Waziri’s second half goal.
Tanzania became the second African country, after Burundi, to complete its top-tier domestic league despite the disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
