Mbeya City take lead of Tanzania Vodacom premier league

Tanzania Vodacom Premier League (VPL) newly promoted side Mbao FC yesterday lost its second consecutive game at home, following their 4-1 thumping at the CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza at the hands of Mbeya City. Raphael Daud scored a brace as Omary Ramadhan and Ramadhan Chombo scored a goal apiece to give the Mbeya lads a comfortable away win. 

Mbao’s consolation goal was scored by Emmanuel Kichiba. Mbeya City now tops the league on six points from two matches. They beat Toto Africans 1-0 in the opening match at the same venue last weekend. 

They seemed determined to grab all the three points from the onset and deservedly took the lead through Daud, who connected home Ramadhan Chombo’s pass in the 20th minute. Emmanuel Kichiba nodded home the equaliser for the host in 34th minute, finishing off a good cross from Venance Joseph. 

 The two sides went into the break tied 1-1. After the break, Mbeya City were too good for their host and took control of the game and in the 55th minute, Omary Ramadhan added the second goal for his side. The host’s boat continued to sink as in the 75th minute, Chombo scored the third.

 And it was Daud again who scored the fourth goal for his side with thunderbolt outside the box with only a minute left before the final whistle. Meanwhile, Meddy Mulisa reports from Bukoba that host Kagera Sugar SC earned the much needed three points when they outclassed visiting Mwadui FC 1-0 in a hotly contested match played at the Kaitaba Stadium yesterday. 

Until half time both sides were tied 0-0. Second half substitute Ali Ramadhan scored the important goal in the 83rd minute. He unleshed a sizzling shot which custodian Idi Mfaume of Mwadui tried to control but the ball slipped from his hands and rolled into the net.

 George Kavila sent a well-calculated pass that was connected by Ramadhan, sending thousands of Kagera fans wild. Mwadui started the game in a fast mood sending several volleys in Kagera goal area. 

 Paul Nonga saw his close kick missing the target narrowly in the 7th minute. Hassan Kabunde also missed a similar chance in the 17th minute. Themi Felix of Kagera Sugar was left alone with ciustodian Mfaume in the 43rd minute but he blasted wide.

 Kagera Sugar started the second half cautiously benching Jaffet Makalai, Kennedy Mafumbuko and Jaffet Bubai in favour of Paul Ngwai, Ali Ramadhan and Danny Mrwanda. Hundreds of soccer fans led by Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC), Salim Kijuum, saw both sides exchanging excellent passes. 

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Vice-President, Wallace Karia and TFF Secretary General, Mwesigwa Celestine, also witnessed the match. 

The officials were in Bukoba to officially launch Kaitaba Stadium, which was recently rehabilitated with artificial turf. Celestine told the ‘Sunday News’ that the Kaitaba Stadium project cost about 800,000 US dollars on completion calling upon the Bukoba Municipal Council, who own the stadium, to ensure it is well maintained. 

He noted that ‘Kilimanjaro Queens’ are expected to arrive in Bukoba next Wednesday for a four- day training on their way to Jinja, Uganda for the CECAFA tournament. 

They will play a friendly match with Burundi women side. The league continues today with only one match on the fixture, whereby Stand United welcome Toto Africans at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga