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| Simba will play today with Fountain Gate at Benjamin Mkapa stadium. |
Simba is set to take the field tonight at 1:00 PM to challenge Fountain Gate in their first match of the Premier League this season, which will be held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Simba recently played an international match in the African Champions League against Gaborone United, where they secured a 1-0 victory away from home.
As they return to the league, they will do so without their Head Coach Fadlu Devis, who left following the international game. The responsibility now falls to Hemed Morocco, the interim coach and head of the National Stars.
All eyes will be on the lineup today, curious about the formation that will be deployed. The good news is that Morocco is well-acquainted with the Tanzanian league, having followed it closely for a long time.
Given the quality Simba displayed in their international match, expectations are high that they will replicate that performance in the league.
However, they will be playing with only 10 players, including two goalkeepers.
Fountain Gate might find themselves in a situation reminiscent of what happened to Kitayosce two seasons ago, when they faced Tabora United, now known as TRA United, while short-handed against Azam FC.
In that first match of the previous season, Azam triumphed with a score of 4-0, while Kitayosce entered the game with only eight players due to registration challenges. The match was concluded prematurely in the 15th minute after two Kitayosce players were injured and unable to continue.
Moreover, Fountain Gate has never managed to defeat Simba in the six encounters they have had in the Premier League since the team was originally named Singida Big Stars and later rebranded to Singida Fountain Gate after being purchased.
In their last match, Fountain lost at home 1-0 to Mbeya City, marking their first league match of the season.