The brilliance of Simba SC’s youthful custodian Ally Salim helped his team to reclaim the Community Shield against rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) in the grand finale at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga late on Sunday.

The agile custodian saved three shots to enable his team to register a 3-1 victory and the Community Shield after missing it in the past two seasons. It is the first title for Simba under Coach Roberto Oliveira and after the Community Shield, he is tasked to regain the Premier League, which Simba also lost in the past two seasons.

Simba managed to score their penalties through Mzamiru Yassin, Willy Onana, and Jean Baleke while Saido Ntibazonkiza and Moses Phiri missed theirs. For Yanga, only Stephanie Aziz Ki scored whereas Khalid Aucho, Pacome Zouzoua, and Kouassi Yao could not find the target. The first half witnessed both sides playing compact football with much action seen in the midfield section where the duo easily dominated.

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It was a well-balanced encounter with the first shot on target coming Simba’s way in the 27th minute courtesy of Clatous Chama whose long-range strike was well saved by Yanga goalie Djigui Diarra. As the game meandered to the end of the electric first half, Yanga’s locomotive winger Jesus Moloko headed in before it was ruled out for offside.

Simba missed the services of centre-back Henock Inonga who is still nursing the injury he picked during their semi-final clash versus Singida Fountain Gate and he was replaced by Kennedy Juma. In an early match, Azam outclassed Singida Fountain Gate 2-0 to claim second place in the tournament in what was a good response to them after suffering a 2-0 defeat in their opening match against Yanga.