2012 IN SPORTS

By Dominic Isiji

JANUARY

* Azam FC clinches Mapinduzi Cup

Moneybags Azam FC kicked of the year 2012 in style by winning what could be termed as the team’s first major trophy since the club’s inception when they were crowned Mapinduzi Cup champions.

Azam FC boosting talented players were too strong for Isles giants Jamhuri FC whitewashing them 3-1 in the finals played at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

The victors goals were scored by John Bocco and Mrisho Ngassa with the other being an own goal from Mrisho Ahmed while Jamhuri consolation goal was scored by Ally Othman Mmanga.

Azam FC received Sh5m for winning the trophy, the team’s goalkeeper Mwadin Ally Mwadin was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper while Bocco and Mmanga were named joint top scorer each with four goals.

* Second leg kicks-off

Second phase of the Mainland Premier League 2011/12 season gets underway in various stadiums across the country whereby Simba who had finished the first phase on top got off to a flying start with a hard fought 2-1 win.

Simba bitter rivals Yanga were forced to a two-all draw by Moro United while premier league title chasers Azam FC narrowly beat African Lyon 2-1. The other results in the opening matches of the second phase were; Mtibwa Sugar 0 v Oljoro JKT 0, Ruvu Shooting 2 v Toto African 0, Villa Squad 2 v Kagera Sugar 4 and Polisi Dodoma 1 v JKT Ruvu 0.

* Unstoppable Twiga Stars    

National ladies soccer team, Twiga Stars, routs Nambia 5-2 in a one sided match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to qualify to the next stage of the African Women Championships 7-2 on aggregate.

Lethal striker Mwanahamisi Omary popularly known as Gaucho was the star player in the return leg match scoring a brace and setting up two more goals.

FEBRUARY

* CAF gets new member

Confederation of African Football (CAF) admits South Sudan as its member becoming the world's newest footballing nation after the country that gained independence in 2011 had its application filled by South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) accepted.

South Sudan now becomes CAF 54th member, meaning the oil-rich country is now recognised as an international team.

In the presence of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his CAF counterpart Issa Hayatou, a delegation from the SSFA was presented with a CAF flag to fly at their headquarters in Juba.

* Yanga marks 77th anniversary

Mainland premier league giants Yanga celebrates 77 years of the club’s inception with a hard fought 1-0 win over fellow premiership side Ruvu Shooting.

The lone goal in a match that generated Sh47.554 million was scored in the 46th minute by Zambian import Davies Mwape.

After the match, there was a colourful celebration held at Peacock Hotel in Dar es Salaam which was attended by the club’s top officials, elders, trustees, former players and sponsors. The chief guest was Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Dr Fenella Mukangala.

* Zambia stuns Ivory Coast

Zambia edged out star studded Ivory Coast in a penalty shoot out after the regulation and extra time ended goalless to be crowned Africa's Champions for the first time.

It was a bittersweet victory in Libreville, Gabon where a Zambian military plane crashed into the ocean soon after takeoff in 1993, killing 25 players and officials on board.

Chipolopolo as they are popularly known won the finals 8-7 on shoot outs thanks to missed penalties from Manchester City and Arsenal stars, Kolo Toure and Gervinho respectively.

The Elephants of Ivory Coast's hit man, Didier Drogba wasted the opportunity to hand the crown to his side by failing to convert a penalty in the second half of the regulation time.

* Minister blasts AT officials

Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi (now Minister for Home Affairs) blasted Athletics Tanzania (AT) officials terming them ‘unfit to hold public office’.

Nchimbi made the remarks following local athletes’ poor performance in the 10th edition of the annual Kilimanjaro Marathon. Kenyan athletes dominated the full and half marathon in both men and ladies categories.

MARCH

* Stars coach furious

National soccer team, Taifa Stars, head coach Jan Poulsen is furious and walks out of the press conference after his team’s lacklustre performance in the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique.

Taifa Stars were forced to a one-all draw in the first leg played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Poulsen defended his team selection of misfiring striker John Bocco and not recalling Mbwana Samatta whom he labelled ‘not a team player’.

* Yanga out of Africa  

Yanga fails to progress past the preliminary stage of the African Champions League narrowly losing 1-0 to Zamalek of Egypt to bow out 2-1 on aggregate.

Zamalek who had managed to hold Yanga 1-1 in the first leg played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam scored an early goal in the return leg match played behind closed doors following a ban from Confederation of African Football (CAF).

* Simba survives Confed Cup

Simba squeezed through the next stage of the Confederation Cup with a hard fought 3-2 aggregate win against Kiyovu of Rwanda.

The Rwandese side had threatened to dispatch Simba with a top class performance during the return leg match played in Dar es Salaam but it required Juma Kaseja heroics and theatrics to see Simba through.

* SBL, TFF marriage ends

Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL) terminates its six years sponsorship contract with national soccer team, Taifa Stars, after Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) increased sponsorship requirements.

SBL started sponsoring Taifa Stars to a tune of Sh700 million and has been directed by TFF to offer an annual sponsorship of Sh3.6 billion.

* Yanga face TFF wrath

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) league’s committee bans Yanga five players for attacking centre referee Israel Nkongo during the team’s 3-1 defeat to Azam FC in a league match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Stephano Mwasika has been banned for one year, Jerry Tegete (six months), Nadir Haroub ‘Cannavaro’ (six games), Nurdin Bakari (three games) and Omega Seme (three games).

APRIL

* TFF league’s committee blow

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) league’s committee Vice Chairman Said Mohammed who also doubles up as Azam FC Chairman has tendered in his resignation opposing to actions taken by TFF disciplinary committee to overturn the league’s committee ruling on Yanga players.

In a twist of events, TFF President Leodegar Tenga has refused to accept Mohammed’s resignation.

* Yanga misery  

Yanga title bid has been dented a blow after Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) deducted the team’s three points in their 1-0 win over Coastal Union played at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga for fielding suspended player Nadir Haroub ‘Cannavaro’.

The central defender who initially had his six-match suspension reduced to three-match, only served two games suspension of the possible three.

* Simba progress in Confed

Despite losing 3-1 to Algerian side ES Setif, Simba cruised to the next stage of the Confederation Cup on away goal rule as the match ended 3-3 on aggregate. Ugandan striker Emmanuel Okwi was the hero scoring the away goal in the dying minutes of the game.

* Polisi Moro, Prisons back

Polisi Moro and Prisons gain promotion back to the Mainland Premier League and will be joined next season by new entrants Mgambo Shooting who are based in Tanga. The trio was identified after the completion of the first division league held at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro.

* Cheka ‘too good’ for Maugo

For the third time, Francis Cheka beats Mada Maugo to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Africa Continental title super middleweight category. Cheka stopped Maugo on TKO in the sixth round. The top prize was a car which was handed over to Morogoro pugilist shortly after being crowned champion but was later on the same night involved in a road accident.

MAY

* Simba demolish Yanga

Simba mercilessly thrashed Yanga 5-0 in a one-sided match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam to be crowned 2011/12 Mainland Premier League champions. Ugandan striker Emmanuel Okwi who has frequently been blamed not scoring against Yanga netted a hat-trick while creating other two goals.

Yanga who had a dismal season finished third with moneybags Azam FC finishing in second position. That meant Simba will represent Mainland in next year’s African Champions League while Azam FC will compete in the Confederation Cup.

* Simba out of Confed

Simba who were the country’s only flabearer in continental club competitions fails to hold onto their 3-0 advantage in the Confederation Cup as they crashed out to Al Ahly Shandy of Sudan on penalties.

Shandy produced one of the tournament’s greatest comebacks in the second half of the return leg match to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate and then going on to win on shootouts 9-7. Patrick Mafisango and captain Juma Kaseja missed their spot kicks.

* Taifa Queens second best

National ladies netball team, Taifa Queens, finished in second place in the African Netball Championship hosted in Dar es Salaam. Taifa Queens picked eight points which were two points behind eventual winners Malawi. Zambia came third with six points, Botswana had four points, Zimbabwe picked two points while Lesotho were pointless.

* Poulsen replaces Poulsen   

Just two months before the expiration of his two-year contract, national soccer team, Taifa Stars, head coach Jan Poulsen has been sacked. Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has replaced the Danish tactician with his compatriot Kim Poulsen.

TFF did not disclose reasons for his dismissal. The new coach of the Taifa Stars is on a one year contract while the former one leaves after a two-year tenure during which his most notable accomplishment was leading Kilimanjaro Stars to the 2010 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup victory.

Before his appointment as Taifa Stars new coach, Kim had been in charge of the national youth teams over the last one year.

* Mafisango dies

Simba midfielder and former Rwanda captain Patrick Mafisango dies in a road accident in Dar es Salaam. It has been reported that Mafisango was trying to avoid a cyclist but landed in a ditch and died on the scene.

Mafisango has been an influential player for Simba and was instrumental in helping the Msimbazi based club clinch the Mainland league title this season.

The late Mafisango’s body was airlifted to his country of birth, Democratic Republic of Congo, for burial.

* AT gets new faces

Anthony Mtaka is elected the new Athletic Tanzania President during the association’s polls held in Morogoro. William Kallaghe is the Vice President tasked in administration while Dr Hamad Mdee is the Vice President in charge of technical.

Suleiman Nyambui retained his Secretary General post with Ombeni Zavalla and Is-haq Suleiman as the Assistant Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Members of the executive committee are Zakaria Barie, Zakaria Gwandu, Lwiza John, Christian Matembo, Meta Petro, Peter Mwita, Rehema Killo, Mwinga Mwanjala, Tullo Chambo and Robert Kalyahe.

* Yanga chairman quits 

Embattled Yanga Chairman Lloyd Nchunga stepped down from his post following the intrigues and infighting within the club. Nchunga unceremoniously quit amid pressure from the council of elders who have been on his case pushing for an end to his reign.

Nchunga had initially been adamant not to bow to the pressure but the club’s failure not to retain the title including the huge defeat against Simba as well as pressure from the elders forced him to throw in the towel.

JUNE

* Stars wrong-foot in 2014 WC

10-man national soccer team, Taifa Stars, lost their first game in the Group C 2014 World Cup qualifier 2-0 to the more experienced Ivory Coast. Nonetheless, Taifa Stars put in a great performance infront of a huge Ivorian fans and facing a star-studded side.

* Yondan drama  

Each transfer season comes with interesting signings and such was the case for central defender Kelvin Yondan who signed for Yanga but Simba insisted the player still has a contract with them.

* Stars bounce back

National soccer team, Taifa Stars, rekindled their dreams of playing in the maiden World Cup with a hard fought but deserved 2-1 win against Gambia played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The goals which came in the second half were scored by Shomari Kapombe and Erasto Nyoni.

* Kapombe is TASWA best

Simba and Taifa Stars defender Shomari Kapombe has been named Tanzania Sports Writers Association (TASWA) Sportsman of the Year 2011 in a colourful ceremony held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam whereby the chief guest was former President Ally Hassan Mwinyi.

* Twiga Stars end of road

National women soccer team, Twiga Stars, dreams for a second successive appearance in the African Women Championship came to an end losing 1-0 to Ethiopia in the return leg match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Twiga Stars failed to turn a 2-1 defeat registered in the first leg played in Addis Ababa as the Ethiopians netted the lone goal in the 65th minute through Birtukan Gebrekirsto to sail through 3-1 aggregate.

* Stars kiss AFCON 2013 bye

Days after Twiga Starts bowed out of the African Women Championship qualifiers, the male counterparts Taifa Stars followed the same suit.

Taifa Stars fought bravely to hold Mozambique to a one-all draw in the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier before bowing out 8-7 on penalties.

JULY

* ZFA holds poll

Amani Ibrahim Makunga has been elected Zanzibar Football Association (ZFA) president having been the sole candidate for the post. Makunga got 49 votes while three votes rejected him. The elections were called after long serving ZFA president Ali Fereji Tamim quit.

* New Coca Cola champs

The exciting national under 17 soccer tournament dubbed Copa Coca Cola reached its climax with Morogoro beating Mwanza 1-0 in the finals played at Karume grounds in Dar es Salaam.

It was a sweet victory for Morogoro coached by Mtibwa Sugar tactician Mecky Mexime having lost in the finals last year. Temeke trounced Tanga 2-0 in the third place playoff.

* Sainfiet new Yanga coach

Yanga finally ends coach searching following the appointment of Belgian Tom Saintfiet on a two-year contract. Saintfiet was received by hundreds of Yanga fans on his arrival.

Ironically, Saintfiet landed Yanga’s job less than a month after the Nigeria Football Federation shelved plans to appoint him as the country’s technical director.

* Yanga retains Kagame Cup

Yanga beat moneybags Azam FC 2-0 in an all-Tanzania final to retain the Kagame Cup trophy. The entertaining game was played at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam with Yanga scoring in each half thanks to strikes from Ugandan international Hamis Kiiza and Said Bahanuzi.

In the third place playoff, AS Vita of DRC – taking part as the guest team – beat APR of Rwanda 2-1. Favourites Simba produced a below standard performance and were therefore eliminated in the quarterfinals losing 2-1 by Azam FC.

* Morris grabs premiership award    

Azam FC defender Aggrey Morris has been named 2011/12 Mainland Premier League Best Player while the Golden Gloves (award for the premiership best goalkeeper) went to Juma Kaseja of Simba. Azam FC striker John Bocco got the Golden Boot (award for the premiership top scorer) with Morogoro based Martin Sanya named Premiership Best Referee.

Englishman Stewart Hall of Azam FC was named premiership best coach of the season while Frank Domayo (JKT Ruvu), Rashid Mandawa (Coastal Union) and Hassan Dilunga (Ruvu Shooting) were named premiership best youngest players.

* Manji is the boss  

Dar es Salaam based businessman Yusuf Manji is elected Yanga Chairman after upstaging John Jambele and Edgar Chibula. Manji has in the recent past been the club’s chief sponsor and later a trustee before finally taking over as the chairman. The Vice Chairman post went to Clement Sanga who overcame challenge from Yona Kevele and Ayub Nyenzi.

Yanga had to go for mini-election due to the fact that, according to the team’s constitution, the remaining executive committee lacked even the minimum power which could allow it to make decision in club’s daily activities.

AUGUST

* Athletes same old story

It was another poor performance from the country’s representatives in the Olympic Games held in London, England. This makes it even difficult to disassociate the word ‘tourism’ with ‘local athletes’.

Tanzania sent a small contingent for the London Games and returned home empty-handed. Amateur boxer Seleman Kidunda was knocked out by Moldavian Vasilii Belous by 20-7 points in the welterweight division 69kg fight while swimmer Magdelena Moshi could not progress pass the preliminary stage.

Athletes Zakia Mrisho, Samson Ramadhan, Mohammed Msenduki and Faustine Mussa also failed to impress with rumours indicating the team had not been payed their allowances.

* Ngassa joins Simba

Mainland Premier League most expensive player Mrisho Ngassa joins Simba on loan from Azam FC. The move is reported to have angered the speedy winger who preferred a move to Yanga with the Jangwani based outfit showing interest to sign their former player.

* Azam gets new coach

Moneybags Azam FC has unveiled Serbian Boris Bunjak as the club’s new coach to replace Englishman Stewart Hall who has since joined Kenya Premier League top side Sofapaka FC.

* Twite dumps Simba for Yanga

The much talked transfer of the season involved Rwandan nationality but of Congolese origin defender Mbuyi Twite. Yanga outsmarted Simba to the signature of Twite. Initially, the player seemed to be heading to Simba with the club’s Chairman Ismail Aden Rage posting a picture of himself with the player only for Twite to be seen signing a contract with Yanga in the presence of one of the club’s top official Bin Kleb.

* Simba youth impressive

Simba fielded a second string team comprising mostly of the youth players and they did not disappoint as they went on to lift the inaugural BancABC Super 8 Cup. Simba beat Mtibwa Sugar 4-3 in an entertaining match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam that lasted 120 minutes.

SEPTEMBER

* Bizarre scenes at athletics championship

There was drama during the national athletics championship with most athletes running barefoot. These scenes were witnessed by Sports Minister Dr Fenella Mukangara who opened the three days championship.

The national athletics championship witnessed more than 20 regions taking part in the first event organised by newly elected Athletics Tanzania (AT) officials. During the championship, athletes were not given numbers to be place on their chests and this made it difficult especially in the 5,000m and 10,000m races.

* Simba wins Community Shield

Simba come from two goals behind to beat Azam FC 3-2 and lift the Community Shield in a match played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. John Bocco and Kipre Tchetche put Azam FC in front, but goals from Dan Akufo, Emmanuel Okwi and Mwinyi Kazimoto completed a memorable comeback for Simba.

Community Shield is a curtain raiser for the Mainland Premier League and it is the second consecutive year Simba wins the trophy having beaten Yanga 2-0 in the last encounter. 

* 2012/13 season kicks-off

There are mixed results in the opening games of the 2012/13 Mainland Premier League. Defending champions Simba maul African Lyon 3-0 while Yanga are forced to a goalless draw by impressive Prisons. Moneybags Azam FC thumps Kagera Sugar 1-0.

* Yanga sack coach

Barely two months in charge, Belgian Tom Saintfiet has been sacked as Yanga head coach. Sainfiet had a poor start of the league picking one point from two games. His worst performance was the 3-0 defeat to Mtibwa Sugar.

Ironically, Saintfiet who had guided Yanga to retain the Kagame Cup said he has been shocked by the action but knew from the first day that the chairman did not like him at all.

* Yanga goes Dutch

After parting ways with Tom Sainfiet of Belgium, Yanga have appointed former Dutch defender Ernie Brandts as his replacement. Prior to his appointment, Brandts was the head coach of Rwanda top side APR. He re-unites with former APR players Mbuyu Twite and Haruna Niyonzima.

* Cheka unstoppable  

Francis Cheka proved just how strong he is after he knocked out Karama Nyilawila in the sixth round of their Universal Boxing Organisation (UBO) super middleweight title bout staged at the PTA Hall in Dar es Salaam.

The victory saw Cheka add yet another belt besides ICB, IBF and WBC titles to his collection. It was Cheka’s second victory over Nyilawila in a year when he won by points at his hometown of Morogoro.

OCTOBER

* Derby ends in draw

Top clubs Yanga and Simba fought to a one-all draw in a Mainland Premier League game played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and beamed live in over 40 African countries thanks to SuperSport.

Midfielder Amir Kiemba scored an early opener for Simba but Yanga equalised in the second half from a well taken Said Bahanuzi penalty. Yanga were reduced to 10 men following Simon Msuva needless send off.

* Mintanga acquitted

Former Boxing Federation of Tanzania (BFT) president Shaaban Mintanga has been acquitted of drug trafficking charges after spending four years behind bars. High Court judge, Dr Fauz Twaib said four witnesses who supported the prosecution case have failed to establish a clear case against the accused.

Anti drugs officials arrested and charged Mintanga in 2008 with two counts of conspiracy and trafficking in 4.8 kilograms of heroin valued at Sh120milion to Mauritius from Tanzania.

Mintanga was implicated in the drug offence after two local boxers, Emilian Patrick and Petro Mtagwa as well as their coach Nassoro Michael were arrested in Mauritius on June 2008 where they had gone for the Africa boxing championship.

* Azam reappoints Hall

Azam FC fires Serbian Boris Bunjak following the team’s 3-1 defeat to Simba in a Mainland Premier League game and reappoints Stewart Hall after reaching an agreement with Sofapaka of Kenya.

* TFF, FKF MoU 

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) agree to have exchange programmes for referees which will witness match officials from Tanzania travel to Kenya to officiate crucial matches and vice versa, premier league clubs of the two countries playing a number of friendly games and empowering coaches by organising training courses.

NOVEMBER

* Tanga Taifa Cup champs

Tanga men’s basketball team are crowned Taifa Cup champions after beating Coast Region 64-41 in the finals played at Mkwakwani grounds in Tanga. In the third place playoff, Dar es Salaam beat Singida 92-66. Dar es Salaam had the last laugh in the ladies category emerging champions after picking eight points, followed by Mbeya (7 points) and hosts Tanga (6 points).

* Kaseja face fans wrath

Simba first choice goalkeeper Juma Kaseja requested the club officials to be rested after he was insulted by fans during the Mainland Premier League game against Mtibwa Sugar which Simba lost 3-0. Kaseja who was not on the starting list was forced to play and conceded ‘simple’ goals.

* Yanga on top

Despite a slow start in the Mainland Premier League 2012/13 season, Yanga find themselves top of the log after the end of the first phase with 29 points from 13 games. Moneybags Azam FC are second with 24 points while Simba are placed third a point behind. At the bottom of the table is promoted Polisi Moro who are winless and have five points to show off.

* Ndolanga gets the boot

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) elections committee has removed Muhidin Ndolanga from his post as Football Referees Association of Tanzania (FRAT) elections committee chairman having established he (Ndolanga) conducted an illegal poll for FRAT in Dodoma. TFF said that FRAT constitution was violated as well as election rules and regulations of TFF members.

DECEMBER

* Ngassa rejects Sudanese offer

Simba striker Mrisho Ngassa who is on loan from Azam FC has surprisingly rejected a big money move to El Merriekh of Sudan. El Merriekh were impressed with Ngassa’s ability during the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and offered him a contract worth USD75,000 (almost Sh120m). His monthly salary would be USD4,000 (almost Sh6m) while Azam FC and Simba will each share USD100,000 as the transfer fee.

Ngassa who had initially shown interest, turned down the offer and went AWOL much to the disappointment of El Merriekh officials who called off the deal.

* Z’bar too good for Kili

Zanzibar Heroes beat Kilimanjaro Stars 6-5 on penalties to win CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup third place playoff after both teams had battled to a one-all draw. Uganda Cranes playing on home soil retained the regional title after beating rivals Harambee Stars of Kenya 2-1 in the finals.

* Poor Serengeti Boys

Serengeti Boys are eliminated by Congo Brazzaville 2-1 on aggregate in the race to qualify for the African Youth Championship scheduled for Morocco in March 2013. Serengeti Boys had cruised to the final stage of the qualifiers without kicking a ball following walkovers after Kenya and Egypt withdrew.

* Bayi bounces back

Incumbents Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) President Rashid Ghulam and Secretary General Filbert Bayi have been re-elected with majority votes during the TOC polls held in Dodoma. Ghulam defeated Khamis Said while Bayi was too strong for Fredrick Mwakalebela. Hassan Jarafu was elected Vice President outsmarting Henry Tandau and Jackson Kalikumtima.

* Miyeyesho retains title  

Francis Miyeyusho retained his WBF super bantamweight title with a 10th round technical knockout of Nassib Ramadhan at PTA Hall in Temeke, Dar es Salaam having initially survived an early scare before stopping his opponent in the 12-round fight.

* Double Azam victory

Azam FC senior and youth teams had the last laughs in their respective tournaments. The moneybags senior team won the Charity Cup playing as invited guests in Kinshasa, DRC. Azam FC beat Dragons FC 4-2 on penalties after both teams had tied 1-1 in regulation time.

The team’s youth team meanwhile beat Coastal Union 3-1 also on penalties to win the Uhai Cup. In 120 minutes of play, the tie was locked at 2-2. In the third place playoff, dethroned champions Simba beat Mtibwa Sugar 3-0.

* Yanga off to Turkey

Five times East and central club championship, Dar es Salaam Young Africans left for Antalya, Turkey for a two-week training stint ahead of the second round of the Mainland Premier League and E.A club championship.

The Kagame Cup champions, who tumbled 1-0 to Kenyan champions Tusker FC in an international friendly at the National Stadium on Thursday, left for Turkey Sunday morning aboard a Turkey Airways flight

Former Dutch international defender and current Young Africans head coach, Ernest Brandts said he is optimistic his players will acquire the exposure and tactics they need to wrest the league title from their arch-rivals Simba when the decisive round starts in February. 

Monday, December 31, 2012