Simba, Azam back in action

By Majuto Omary
Dar es Salaam. A daunting task awaits Coastal Union this afternoon when they host high-flying Simba at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga for the first time this season.
The billed to be an exciting encounter is one of six matches that are on the menu at different venues countrywide today as the Vodacom Premier League rolls into its seventh round.
Elsewhere, second-placed Azam FC face struggling Morogoro Police at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro and Ruvu Shooting take on African Lyon at the Mabatini venue in Coast Region.
Newly promoted Tanzania Prisons and JKT Oljoro lock horns at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya while Mtibwa Sugar host Tanga’s Mgambo JKT at Manungu venue in Morogoro.
But most soccer fans will, arguably, focus their attention to the Mkwakwani Stadium where defending champions will be seeking to maintain their winning run.
Coastal Union have been far from impressive this season. They are seventh in the league table with nine points from six matches, eight behind league leaders Simba.
In the circumstances, the challenge of taking on one of the country’s best sides might prove too much for many less fancied teams, but coach Hemed Morocco is convinced Coastal Union’s team-spirit can help them frustrate the Msimbazi Reds.
"I will be proud if we can win or draw because I have studied particularly what Simba have tried to do, and we must do what we can to contain them," Morocco told this paper by phone from Tanga yesterday.
"They have the quality of (Emmanuel) Okwi, (Juma) Kaseja, (Felix) Sunzu, (Mwinyi) Kazimoto and (Amri) Kiemba- unfortunately, we don't have that kind of players.
"But we have our qualities and with our qualities, we can confront them (Simba). I am proud of this team. We have achieved important results with our quality, with our attitude. That's what we can be proud of," he said.
His Simba counterpart Milovan Cirkovic says he wants to see more stability and rhythm when the title-holders face the Tanga team.
Simba, who have not tasted defeat so far, were not much impressive in their last match against JKT Oljoro and although they won they rolled over the army team. "I hope all the players will have a better game rhythm than in our last match," said Cirkovic.