Tanzanian side, SIMBA crashed to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of visiting Asante Kotoko of Ghana in an international friendly match to commemorate the 50th Uhuru Anniversary played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
The match, which was attended by a sizeable crowd, was decided by the solitary goal slotted home in the second half by substitute Daniel Adjei. Simba started with only four regulars including first-choice goalkeeper Juma Kaseja, defender Obadia Mungusa, and strikers Uhuru Selemani and Emmanuel Okwi.
The quartet provided experience to the youthful squad that contained a host of youngsters who recently won the U-20 Premier League trophy. Asante Kotoko featured just as youthful team and while they were second best in the opening half they raised their game after the restart to take the 1-0 victory.
The hosts, under new tactician, Serbian Curkovic Milovan, started the brightest side, displaying their trademark free flowing football and had a host created a few openings before the breather. Okwi, a joint leading goal scorer at the just concluded CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, with five goals, was again in superb form and frequently terrorized the visitors’ defence.
The Ugandan striker, whose exploit helped the Cranes clinch a record breaking 12th Challenge Cup title, could have notched in the opener after 24 minutes had it not been a heroic save from Asante Kotoko’s custodian Soulama Abdoulaye.
Just a minute later, Obadia Mungusa wasted a glorious opportunity to put Simba ahead after his effort was cleared off the line by Asante Kotoko defenders.
Kotoko were not a mute force. The Ghanaians were surging forward at every opportunity and went close to taking the lead in the half hour mark when Nathaniel Asamoah struck the crossbar with a ferocious drive before Simba defenders moved in to clear the danger.
Milovan rested Kaseja at the beginning of the second half with Wilbert Mweta coming on and later on replaced Selemani by Miraji Athumani. The half also saw Asante Kotoko replace Mohamed Sabato and Koffi Boakye by Adjei and Yaw Frimpong respectively and changes seemingly improved the Ghanaian outfit as they slightly took control of the proceedings.
Kotoko’s domination paid off as substitute Adjei broke the deadlock in the 70th minute after being set up by Amos Frimpong. Moments after going down, Simba suffered another blow when goalkeeper Mweta was forced to go off due to injury.
The national U-20 shot-stopper, Saleh Malande, came on his place for the remaining quarter. Salum Machaku, who came on to replace Frank Sekule in the second half, wasted a great opportunity to pull the game to level terms in stoppage time and it ended 1-0 in favour of Kotoko.
Apart from the commemoration of 50 years Independence Anniversary, the Kotoko match served as Simba’s preparation ahead of the second round of the Mainland Vodacom Premier League as well as the CAF Confederation Cup due to start early next year.
According to the fixtures released on Saturday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Msimbazi Street side will face regional opponents Kiyovu FC of Rwanda in the preliminary round of the continental championship.
Simba: Juma Kaseja/ Wilbert Mweta, Omar Abdallah, Obadia Mungusa, Hassan Khatibu, Jonas Mkude, Uhuru Selemani/Miraji Athumani, Abdallah Seseme/ Ramadhan Singano, Edward Christopher, Emmanuel Okwi/ Ramadhani Mzee, Frank Sekule/ Salum Machaku.
Asante Kotoko: Soulama Abdoulaye, Sabato Mohamed/ Daniel Adjei, Amos Frimpong, Ohere Brenyac, Awal Mohamed, Michael Akuttu, David Osei, Afrande Yeboah, Koffi Boakye/ Yaw Frimpong, Mohamed Anaba, Nathaniel Asamoah.
