SIMBA SC interim head coach Juma Mgunda has said ‘it is back to the drawing board’ for his side after they were forced to settle for a damaging draw with Namungo FC in the NBC Premier League tie which took place in Lindi on Tuesday.

A late own goal by center-back Kennedy Juma saw Simba SC blow a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Namungo FC at Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa.

Miscommunication between goalkeeper Ayub Lakred and defender Juma resulted in a howler own-goal in the 90th minute.

Cameroonian striker Willy Onana had given Simba SC the lead in the 33rd minute but the well-travelled and evergreen Kelvin Sabato Kongwe levelled the scoreboard for Namungo FC six minutes later.

In the second half, winger Edwin Balua- who was starting in a competitive game for the first time since his January arrival- restored Simba SC’s lead, courtesy of his well-taken free kick 20 minutes to normal stoppage time.

The results leave Simba SC sitting third on the table with 47 points collected from 22 games played. They are 15 points behind league leaders Young Africans SC.

Simba SC also finds itself eight points behind second-placed Azam FC, further dwindling the former’s hopes of clinching the coveted CAF Champions League spot.

Afterward, Mgunda spoke to the press saying they have to get back to the drawing board to address their shortcomings to get positive results in the remaining eight games.

"I should thank my players for fighting to get one point. It wasn't easy, it was a difficult match and you know the league is going toward the finishing line, everyone is fighting hard to achieve their targets," the interim head coach noted.

He pointed out: "With the results that have happened, I believe that in the remaining eight games we are going back to the training grounds to make sure that the good things that have come out in today's game can be improved."

Mgunda disclosed: "And the shortcomings that appeared and led to this draw, we are going to work on them to ensure that, in the next match, we try to finish well and get a good result."

Simba SC will quickly regroup for their next league assignment on Friday against relegation-battling Mtibwa Sugar at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Inheriting the team following Simba SC’s recent split with Algerian coach Abdelhak Benchikha, Mgunda witnessed his side take an early lead in the 34th minute. Willy Onana, capitalizing on a pass from Mohamed Hussein, put Simba SC ahead.

Five minutes after Simba SC went ahead, Sabato equalized for Namungo FC, scoring his first goal of the season in the league.

The goal, scored by Sabato from a pass by midfielder Ayoub Semtawa, woke Simba SC up again, but their efforts were fruitless and they found themselves at half-time with the score reading 1-1.

In the first half, Simba SC’s forward, Kibu Denis, was unable to continue the game due to a tackle by Namungo FC center-back Hamis Khalifa in the 25th minute. Denis was substituted in the 27th minute and his place was taken by Pa Omar Jobe.

Early in the second half, Mgunda made a substitution, taking off midfielder Babacar Sarr and replacing him with Abdallah Hamisi who, to some extent, went to fight to ensure the team was solid in midfield.

From the first minute of the game until the 61st minute, Simba SC was seen taking five corner kicks while Namungo FC had not managed any. Despite Simba SC taking many corner kicks, the outfit failed to make good use of them.

To ensure that either of the sides was looking for a win after a long time with the score tied at 1-1, several substitutions were made, with Namungo FC head coach Mwinyi Zahera bringing on forwards Hassan Kabunda and Meddie Kagere in the 67th minute to replace Semtawa and Sabato.

Shortly after the introduction of the duo, Simba SC went 2-1 up in the 69th minute from a direct free kick by Edwin Balua, who tormented Namungo FC goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana.

Balua’s appearance in the game was his first time starting for Simba SC since joining the team in the last transfer window this season from Tanzania Prisons FC.

Zahera continued to fight to ensure his club did not lose at home and made more substitutions in the 78th minute, bringing off midfielder Frank Domayo and Khalifa and bringing on Hashim Manyanya and James Mwashinga.

The substitutions largely contributed to Namungo FC's increasing attacking power and, in the 89th minute, the team’s players exchanged quick passes before Kagere put Simba SC goalkeeper Lakred and his defender Juma under pressure with a looping shot, resulting in an own goal by Juma which made the scoreline read 2-2.

The draw takes Simba SC to 47 points after 22 games, leaving the club positioned third in the table, while Namungo FC, who have played 24 games, are occupying ninth place with 27 points.

The two goals conceded by Simba SC in the game have left the team conceding 23 goals in 22 games, continuing the side’s poor defensive record.