Simba striker Emmanuel Okwi celebrates after scoring a hat-trick at Uhuru Stadium during the first day of Mainland Premier League.

Dar es Salaam. Simba Sports Club have started the Mainland Premier League with a bang after humiliating Ruvu Shooting 7-0 at Uhuru Stadium.

During the match, Ugandan striker Emmanuel Okwi scored four goals during his comeback in the league.

It was the first time in 10 years of the league’s history for players to score four goals in the opening matches.

Okwi scored the first goal in the 18th minute after he was set clear by Mzamiru Yasin’s good penetration pass before adding the second goal in the 22nd after beating two Ruvu Shooting defenders.

Okwi proved his strong comeback in the 35th following another good pass from Mzamiru and scored the fourth in the 52nd following a good cross from Saidi Ndemla. Other Simba goal scorers were Shiza Kichuya, Juma Luizio and Erasto Nyoni.

Simba played well during the encounter and dominated it, leaving Ruvu Shooting players hapless. The army team made a few serious attacks through Juma Saidi and Saidi Dilunga, but Simba, under captain Method Mwanjali and Salum Mbonde cleared all balls before reaching goalkeeper Aishi Manula.

“This is the best results we targeted; we played well and created many clear scoring chances. We commend our players for the fine start; it is good and we are sure of maintaining the winning streak,” said Simba assistant coach Jackson Mayanja.

Meanwhile, Mbao FC won 1-0 against Kagera Sugar yesterday while Mwadui FC beat Singida United 2-1.

Azam FC won 1-0 against Ndanda. Mtibwa Sugar beat Stand United 1-0 and Mbeya City won 1-0 against Majimaji.

Young Africans striker Ibrahim Ajibu (middle) confronts Simba defenders during the Community Shield match at the National Stadium. PHOTO| MICHAEL MATEMANGA 

Dar es Salaam. Mainland champions Young Africans start their campaign of defending their title today by taking on Lipuli of Iringa at the National Stadium.

Young Africans’ captain Nadir “Cannnavaro” Haroub said they are in top shape ahead of the match and believe they would beat their challengers.

“We will do our best to win; we are in high morale and we don’t underrate our opponents because there is no easy team in the league. We need to show our prowess in the encounter.”

He said they were committed to winning the title for the fourth time in a row.

The match has been scheduled to start at 4pm and the two team coaches have boasted of dislodging their rivals.

Lipuli FC head coach Seleman Matola said they were not underrating the Jangwani Street boys although they were prepared to win.

Matola said his players had high morale and they would deliver a deadly blow to Young Africans. He is proud of a “mix of experienced players and new faces who focus on positive results”.

He said they had taken all precautions ahead of the match because Young Africans were defending champions and want to win the title for the fourth time in a row.

“It is going to be a thrilling match because we want to rack up points and start the league with a bang. We know Young Africans are strong, but my boys aim at showing a heroic deed.”

Some of Lipuli players are Asante Kwesi who played for Mbao FC in the last season. Others are Paul Ngalema, Joseph Owino and Novat Lufunga.

Barcelona eased into life without Neymar by honouring Chapecoense, the Brazilian side still reeling from a devastating plane crash that killed 19 players and 24 club officials last year, in a 5-0 friendly win on Monday.

On an emotional night for the visitors, Chapecoense were captained by Alan Ruschel, one of only three players to survive the crash, on his return to action.

Ruschel was joined by the two other survivors Nieto and Jakson Follmann from the squad who were on their way to face Atletico Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana when the aircraft crashed into the Colombian mountains on November 28 last year, killing 71 people.

Nieto and Follmann, who had his right leg amputated after the crash, both broke down in tears as they were invited to take an honorary kick-off in front of a crowd of 65,000 at the Camp Nou.

“I am filled with happiness to be returning to play,” Ruschel told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“I am one of the happiest people in the world because I am living something almost unthinkable. I consider myself fortunate to be in Spain, facing Barcelona, playing in a stadium where I never thought I would be.”

Ruschel also got a souvenir to savour as he swapped shirts with five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi after full-time.

Funds raised from the match will “help Chapecoense rebuild institutionally and recover the competitive level it had before the tragedy”, Barca said in a statement.

Ruschel was given the unenviable task of facing up to Messi on his return and despite the sentimentality of the occasion, Barca didn’t let up once the game got underway.

On a sporting level the Catalan giants have had a turbulent week with star Brazilian forward Neymar joining Paris Saint-Germain for a world record 222 million euro ($264 million) transfer fee.

Barca are expected to splash some of that cash in the coming weeks with a host of players rumoured to be possible Neymar replacements, including Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund.

However, Gerard Deulofeu made his case to at least keep his place for Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup first leg against Real Madrid with a goal and two assists before half-time.

The former Everton winger opened the scoring with a tap-in after neat work from Ivan Rakitic and his cut-back was then curled into the top corner by Sergio Busquets to make it 2-0 inside 11 minutes.

“It has been an incredible experience. They deserve to be here and have enjoyed this marvellous day,” said Deulofeu.

“They are heroes. When I think about what happened to them I start to cry.”

Messi got his goal when he slotted home Deulofeu’s low cross before Ruschel was given a standing ovation as he was substituted after 35 minutes.

Barca understandably took their foot off the gas after half-time, but Luis Suarez finally managed to get his name on the scoresheet from Messi’s pass 10 minutes after the break before Denis Suarez rounded off the scoring. Chapecoense did have one moment to savour when goalkeeper Artur Moraes saved Paco Alcacer’s penalty late on. (AFP)