SIMBA SC secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Tabora United in a tightly-contested NBC Premier League match played at Azam Complex Stadium, Chamazi in Dar es Salaam early this week.

This win keeps the Msimbazi Street squad in the hunt for second place and a coveted CAF Champions League spot next season.

Simba SC’s interim head coach, Juma Mgunda, acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting: “Tabora United is a good team and put up a lot of opposition, they shouldn’t be criticized- they showed a lot of fight.”

While celebrating the win, Mgunda is already setting his sights on the next challenge, remarking: “Today’s game is over. We are going back to training to prepare for the next match against Azam FC, every game has its preparations.”

"The upcoming clash with Azam FC holds significant weight, this is an important match because it will decide who sits on top of the other,” Mgunda explained. 

“They are in second place, only four points ahead of us, and we have a game in hand. A win would put us in a very good position.”

He added: "Don’t forget, this is a derby, it will bring together the best teams fighting for the top honour. It won’t be easy, but we are prepared.”

The match between Simba SC and Tabora United began at a measured pace, with most of the action concentrated in the midfield. Clear-cut chances were scarce for both sides.

The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute when midfielder Sadio Kanoute rose above Tabora United's defense to head home a corner kick by Ladaki Chasambi.

This goal momentarily jolted Simba SC into a higher gear, but they struggled to capitalize on their momentum.

Tabora United, meanwhile, tightened up their defense, making life difficult for the Simba SC attackers.

The second goal finally arrived in the 76th minute. Edwin Balua capitalized on a pinpoint pass from Mzamiru Yassin to double Simba SC’s lead and secure three points.

This victory propels Simba SC to 53 points, whilst still sitting third after 24 matches. However, their work is far from over.

They need to secure wins in their remaining matches to overtake Azam FC and secure the coveted second-place finish that guarantees a spot in the CAF Champions League. 

Key upcoming fixtures include matches against Azam FC, Kagera Sugar, and Dodoma Jiji FC.

For Tabora United, the picture is much bleak. They find themselves precariously positioned in the relegation zone, sitting 15th with just 23 points from 25 games.

To avoid dropping to the NBC Championship League, they need to win at least three of their remaining matches.

Their upcoming schedule features challenging encounters with Mtibwa Sugar, Young Africans SC, and Namungo FC.

Tabora United will need to dig deep and pull off some unexpected victories to ensure their survival in the NBC Premier League next season.