Magereza beat last year’s Mapinduzi Cup hockey finalist Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) 5-3 at the national club championship that started yesterday at the Lugalo Barracks ground in Dar es Salaam.
The victory gave Magereza a ticket to today semi-finals. The winners were in a sparking form to beat hosts TPDF. Last year, TPDF went all the way to the final but lost 2-1 to defending champion Dar Khalsa.
In the Saturday’s game Magereza took control of the game and were leading 2-0 at half time. Carsto Mayuma opened the scoring for the winners in the first minute before Keneti Kanuti added the second few minutes before half time.
Magereza ought to have scored more goals in the first half but wasted several opportunities. One of the clear cut chances was wasted by Mayuma.
He could not convert Richard Daudi’s good pass in ten minutes, while Elias Samala of TPDF denied his team a come back after he wasted Amosi Ngambara’s pass.
TPDF had a chance to get back into the game early in the second half, but Abdalah Katundu and Ngambara wasted the opportunities in the 36 and 37 minutes.
Magereza took advantage of their rival’s mistake and went ahead to slot the third goal in 38th minutes through Abdalah Midodo, before Andalwisye Cibola hit four in 52nd minutes, a finish off from Joseph Obare’s neat pass. Obare added fifth four minutes later.
TPDF first goal came in the 59 minutes through Deep Vaja, before Ngambara and Facous Paulo added goals in the 61 and 62 minutes respectively. It was not a good day for TPDF in the second match after they drew 3-3 by Dar Institute, which dented their dream to progress into the next stage.
Their fate will be determined by the results of the match between Magereza and Dar Institute, who were set to clash late in the evening yesterday. In Group A defending champion Dar Khalsa and Moshi Khalsa all went through to the semifinals after winning their respective matches.
Dar Khalsa beat Ladies 7-0 while Moshi Khalsa beat the same team 8-0. The two were in action in the evening to decide group leader and second placed side that will meet two group B teams in the semis.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Hockey Association (DRHA) Secretary Mnonda Magani said that the semifinals will be played this morning, while the final match will be played in the afternoon.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News