Azam, Mtibwa share spoils in friendly

MAINLAND Premier League teams of Azam FC and Mtibwa Sugar battled to a 2-2 draw in a pre mid-season friendly played at the former's venue, Azam Complex, in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
The two teams used the game to prepare for the second half of season which is scheduled to kickoff at the weekend.
Azam coach Zeben Hernandez, swapped two squads during the game with the first played in the opening 45 minutes and the other featured in the remaining part of the game.
Ghanaian import Enock Atta Agyei, opened the scoring for Azam FC on the 14th minute through a penalty after Mtibwa Sugar keeper, Said Mohamed, had fouled Azam striker, Francisco Zekumbawira, inside the penalty area.
Azam put stellar displays in the opening half but conceded an equaliser on the 28th minute when Mtibwa’s experienced midfielder, Shaaban Nditi, banged the ball in for his team. The two sides were locked to the 1-1 draw at the end of the opening half.
Azam striker Yahaya Mohammed, who replaced Agyei on the 61st minute, notched the second goal for the hosts but Mtibwa Sugar midfielder, Ibrahim Rajab ‘Jeba’, who had played for Azam’s junior outfit in the past, equalised through a penalty kick on the 90th minute.
Agyei, who is among Azam FC’s newly recruited players, enjoyed plenty of acclaim from fans when he was substituted for Mohamed, thanks to the former’s impressive showing in the game.
Azam technical bench used the game to, as well, assess the performance of two other new players, defensive midfielder, and Cameroonian Stephane Kingue and Ghanaian defender, Yakubu Mohamed, who crossed over from Ghana’s Aduana Stars.
Azam will kick off the second half of the season by facing another Dar es Salaam outfit of African Lyon at the Uhuru Stadium on December 18.
In Mtibwa Sugar’s opening game, the squad will travel to Coast Region to face the latter’s outfit, Ruvu Shooting, at the Mabatini ground, a day before.