Kagera Sugar coach, Mrage Kabange
The team, whose coaching panel recently expressed intention to see
the squad shed off its perennial outsiders’ status and stay in
contention for the title, succumbed to a 2-1 loss to visiting Simba SC
at the Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga on Monday.
Skillful and fast rushing winger Ramadhan Singano scored the opener
for Simba on the 49th minute and Kagera equalised through their
talismanic striker Rashid Mandawa, ten minutes later. Striker Ibrahim
Ajibu then scored the winner for Simba from the pot kick on the 68th
minute to hand his side crucial three points.
Kabange said shortly after the match that Kagera needs to improve
its striking force and score goals, noting that failure to make the most
of scoring opportunities has been visible in the squad during recent
matches.
“We need to improve our striking force so that we can score goals
in opportunities that come our way. We should not wait to fight back for
an equaliser after the team has conceded a goal”, Kabange said.
Kabange also strongly criticised referee, Erick Onoka who
officiated the game between Kagera and Simba, saying the referee was
biased against Kagera.
“Simba were unfairly awarded the second half penalty. It is obvious
the referee had already decided the game’s results right before the
kick off…we could have won this game”.
Simba are still positioned third in the league standings but the
side has managed to reduce its points’ gap with second-placed Azam FC to
one, in which the former has 35 points and the latter has 36 points.
Azam though has the opportunity to widen the gap when the team hosts Mbeya City FC at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam today.
Kagera are still positioned fourth in the league log with 28 points
from 21 appearances and victory in the remaining fixtures is crucial
for the team’s plan to avoid dropping down the standing.
The Monday game could have turned into a high scoring affair, had
the two teams fully exploited a host of opportunities they had in either
half.
Simba’s first opportunity came on the tenth minute when the side’s
left fullback, Mohamed Hussein, floated in a good cross from the left,
which was met by their Ugandan striker Dan Sserunkuma, inside Kagera
Sugar penalty area and the striker set up winger Singano but Kagera
defenders timely intercepted and cleared the ball.
Kagera had also managed to push forward twice in the first five
minutes but the team’s strikers failed to test Simba’s keeper, Manyika
Peter.
Sserunkuma was then denied by Kagera’s right post after he had
dribbled past the latter’s defender inside the penalty area and
attempted a powerful left footed shot, which left Kagera keeper Agaton
Anthony, sprawling helplessly on the turf.
Simba’s another Ugandan striker, Emmanuel Okwi got the better of a
Kagera Sugar defender inside the latter’s penalty area on the 33rd
minute and crossed in for Sserunkuma but Kagera’s defender, Erick
Murilo, executed a timely bicycle kick to clear the ball for an abortive
corner kick.
Simba won a free kick outside Kagera’s penalty area a minute before
half time but the former’s winger, Singano, attempted a weak shot that
was saved by Kagera’s Anthony.
Kagera then attacked zealously during the closing stages and they
had a valid penalty claim turned down by referee, Onoka, when Simba’s
Isihaka blocked a shot by one of Kagera strikers with his hand inside
the penalty area.
Kagera players were visibly incensed by Onoka’s failure to award
them the penalty and the referee had to be escorted by police shortly
after the final whistle to avoid the Kagera players’ wrath.
A bizarre incident happened shortly before the game’s start, in
which Simba players refused to enter the changing rooms and risk to be
fined by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) as the act is deemed a
breach of one of the league regulations.
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