Kopunovic rues missed chances

Simba head coach Goran Kopunovic

SIMBA head coach Goran Kopunovic felt his side paid the price for failing to take their chances after suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Mgambo JKT in the Premier League match on Wednesday.

Simba had high expectations to forge a winning run at Mgambo JKT after enjoying back-to-back wins against leaders Young Africans and Mtibwa Sugar, but they were brought back down to earth at the Mkwakwani Stadium.

Ally Nassoro’s 20-yards stunner and a second half penalty by Full Maganga condemned the Reds, who also had first-choice goalkeeper Ivo Mapunda sent off, to a surprise defeat to leave their slender hopes of mounting a late title bid in tatters.

However, it could have been a different story had it not been for an outstanding display from Mgambo defence, which kept Simba attackers, Emmanuel Okwi, Ramadhani Singano, Ibrahim Hajib, Said Ndemla and second half substitute Elias Maguri at bay.

Kopunovic expressed his dismay over the outcome of the game, in which Simba dominated for longer periods, as he believes his team created enough chances to take a positive result from the fixture.

“I am very disappointed because I thought we did enough to win the game, but we weren’t prolific enough in terms of goalscoring,” the Serbian tactician said.

“We created enough chances to win the game and had we taken at least two chances we could have decided the game, but we didn’t and this disappointed me,” he added.

Kopunovic hit out at Mgambo JKT’s tactics, saying army wardens were aggressive in their approach as they sought to disrupt his players, who struggled at times to cope with their physic opponents.

The Serbian will now be without experienced goalkeeper Mapunda for the forthcoming assignment against Ruvu Shooting, scheduled for this Sunday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The long-serving custodian found himself on the wrong side of his goalkeeping duties when he rushed out of his goal to close down goal-bound Salum Aziz Gila, only to bundle down the former Simba striker, which resulted in his sending off.

Young shot-stopper Manyika Peter came on, with playmaker Said Ndemla sacrificed, but the former could not save the resultant penalty that all but killed the game.

Simba could not bounce back for the remainder of the contest and were lucky not to concede more goals, with Manyika forced into making a couple of decent saves from Mgambo strikers.

The defeat means Simba remain in third place with 29 points after playing 19 games. Yanga, who beat Kagera Sugar 2-1 on Wednesday, occupy the driver’s seat with 34 points from 17 games, followed by holders Azam FC in second with 33 points also from 17 outings.

Kagera Sugar retain fourth place with 25 points, while Mgambo JKT have leapt from 11th position to fifth with 24 points. The Mainland top flight league continues on Saturday with Mgambo Shooting playing host to Yanga at the Mkwakwani Stadium, while JKT Ruvu will be on road to take on Ndanda FC.

On Sunday, Tanzania Prisons entertain Polisi Morogoro at the Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya and Azam are away at Coastal Union in Tanga.