Dar es Salaam. Simba SC made a dominant return to the top of the Tanzanian Premier League on Sunday after a resounding 5-2 victory over Kagera Sugar at Kaitaba Stadium, thanks in part to an exciting debut performance from their new signing, Elie Mpanzu.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who joined Simba from AS Vita of DR Congo on September 30, made his first competitive appearance in a league match and showed glimpses of his quality in just 57 minutes of play.
Although Mpanzu didn’t find the back of the net, his presence on the pitch was felt immediately.
Known for his calm and composed playing style, the winger was a constant nuisance for Kagera Sugar, using his exceptional ball control and quick decision-making to keep the opposition on their toes.
His passes were sharp, and he rarely gave the ball away, completing most of his passes successfully.
Mpanzu was fouled several times, with Kagera’s defenders unable to cope with his ability to glide past them.
One of these fouls led to a yellow card for Kagera’s Hija Shamte in the second half.
Initially playing wide, Mpanzu frequently swapped positions with his teammates Awesu Awesu and Jean Charles Ahoua, often drifting inside to add creativity to Simba’s attack.
His versatility was evident as he seamlessly adjusted his positioning to keep Kagera’s defense guessing.
While his crossing didn’t prove to be as effective as expected, he found success by cutting inside from the wings, where he looked more comfortable in controlling the flow of the game.
Mpanzu’s smart movement and passing played a key role in Simba’s attacking play, even though he did not score or assist in this match.
His work off the ball created space for others, and his link-up play with teammates was an important factor in Simba’s success.
He was replaced by Joshua Mutale in the 57th minute, but by then, he had already shown enough to excite the fans and give hope for his future performances.
The match itself was an entertaining affair. Simba got off to a great start with Shomari Kapombe scoring the opening goal in the 13th minute.
Kapombe finished off a lovely cross from Mohamed Hussien ‘Tshabalala’ to give Simba the lead.
Jean Charles Ahoua doubled the advantage in the 44th minute with a stunning free-kick just before halftime, which was awarded after he was fouled by Kagera’s Abdallah Mfuko.
Fabrice Ngoma made it 3-0 for Simba in the 54th minute, heading home a well-taken corner from Ladack Chasambi, who had come on in the 41st minute as a substitute for Awesu.
Chasambi’s influence continued to be felt, as he also provided the assists for both of Steven Mukwala’s goals (68’ and 84’), with Mukwala showing his clinical finishing to seal the victory for Simba.
Kagera Sugar, despite their best efforts, were unable to keep up with Simba’s attacking onslaught. They did manage to break Simba’s impressive defensive record when Datius Peter pulled one back in the 80th minute, after a well-placed finish past Simba’s goalkeeper, Moussa Camara.
However, Simba responded with a fifth goal, courtesy of Mukwala, who added his second in the 84th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Cleophace Mkandala’s goal in the final minute (90+3’) for Kagera was little more than a consolation.
Simba’s victory saw them move to 34 points, reclaiming the top spot in the league, just one point ahead of second-placed Azam, who have 33 points.
The win was a strong statement from Simba, who, with Mpanzu in the mix, look like serious title contenders this season.
Coach Fadlu Davids also made several substitutions to keep the squad fresh, including bringing on Yusuph Kagoma, Joshua Mutale, Kelvin Kijiri, and Mzamiru Yassin.
This rotation helped maintain Simba’s tempo and ensured that Kagera had no opportunity to mount a comeback.
