Dar es Salaam. Simba SC’s central defenders, Rushine De Ruck and Karabou Chamou, lifted the Msimbazi Reds to the top of the Mainland Premier League standings after scoring crucial goals in their 3-0 victory over Namungo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
The goals sealed Simba’s second successive league win, following their opening 3-0 triumph over Fountain Gate at the same venue last week.
In Wednesday’s fixture, which kicked off at 8:15pm EAT, Simba took the lead in the 42nd minute when Chamou headed home a corner delivered by Joshua Mutale.
Despite dominating possession, Simba’s build-up play from the back remained unconvincing in the first half, echoing the issues seen in their opening match of the season.
Steven Mukwala started as the main striker in place of Jonathan Sowah but failed to provide the cutting edge.
At the restart, Coach Seleman Matola introduced Neo Maema for Elie Mpanzu, who had struggled to make an impact.
The substitution paid off almost immediately, as Maema’s free-kick delivery in the 52nd minute was finished by De Ruck, who found the net for the second game running.
The defender had also scored Simba’s first goal of the season against Fountain Gate.
Holding a two-goal cushion, Matola made further changes, withdrawing Morice Abraham, Mukwala and Mutale, and bringing on Seleman Mwalimu, Charles Jean Ahoua and Kibu Denis.
The new energy helped Simba sustain pressure, creating chance after chance before Mwalimu scored his maiden league goal.
He dribbled past Namungo defender Hussein Kazi and unleashed a shot that beat goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana.
Namungo’s own changes, including the introduction of Herbert Lukindo and Pius Buswita for Hassan Kabunda and Abdallah Mfuko (already on a yellow card), failed to alter the course of the match.
The result leaves Simba at the summit of the league with six points and six goals from two matches.
It also extends their dominance over Namungo at home, with six wins from seven league meetings, the other having ended in a draw.
Simba: Yakoub Suleiman (22), Shomari Kapombe (12), Anthony Mlingo (5), Rushine De Ruck (23), Karabou Chamou (2), Kante Alasana (8), Yusuph Kagoma (21), Joshua Mutale (7), Elie Mpanzu (34), Steven Mukwala (3) na Morice Abraham (18).
Namungo: Jonathan Nahimana (13), Jacob Masawe (24), Ali Ahmed (2), Daniel Amoah (4), Abdallah Mfuko (5), Faria Ondongo (14), Hassan Kabunda (17), Heritier Makambo (19), Geofrey Julius (26), Abdulkarim Kiswanya (50), na Bakari Hussein (60).
