‘Simba will keep feet on ground’

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA SC Head Coach Fadlu Davids has insisted that despite the frustrating 2-2 draw against Azam FC at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Monday night, his team remains fully focused on preparing for their next Tanzania Mainland Premier League fixture against Coastal Union.

In a post-match interview, the South African coach emphasised the importance of maintaining focus and not losing hope. He highlighted that if Simba win all of their remaining matches, they still stand a strong chance of clinching the league title.

“It’s clear that if we win every match for the rest of the season, we’re champions. That has to be our target and our mindset. Every match is important,” Davids said.

The match against Azam was particularly disappointing for Davids, as his side conceded an early goal and allowed a lastminute equaliser, dropping two crucial points in the process.

“It was very disappointing. After a good performance, we conceded a goal in the first few minutes and then, of course, another mistake right at the end. Making mistakes at the beginning and at the end cost us today,” Davids explained.

Despite the setback, Davids urged his players and the fans not to be discouraged by the tight points gap at the top of the table.

He reminded everyone that there are still plenty of points up for grabs and the team’s pursuit of the title must remain relentless. “We have to push and the fans must continue to support us.

There are still 30 points to play for. Whether we are one point ahead or one point behind doesn’t make a big difference.

We have to win every match,” he said. Looking ahead, Davids stressed that the team must not get distracted by the upcoming Kariakoo Derby against Yanga SC. Instead, their focus must be on securing three points against Coastal Union on Saturday.

“Coastal Union is a tough opponent, but we have analysed their playing style and will be well-prepared. We dropped points against them in the first round, but I’ve already studied them.

They recently played against Azam, so I have a good understanding of how they approach big matches,” Davids said.

“The next match is always the most important one. We must focus on getting those three points before even thinking about the derby,” he added.

ALSO READ: 10-man Prisons beat Simba SC 2-1

Meanwhile, Azam FC Head Coach Rachid Taoussi expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating that a 2-2 draw against Simba was a solid result.

Taoussi praised his players’ discipline and commitment, acknowledging the toughness of the match.

“Today was a tough game. We started well by scoring early, but we knew Simba would react strongly and they did,” said Taoussi.

Although he was happy with his team’s effort, Taoussi voiced dissatisfaction with the referee’s decisions in the second half, though he refrained from detailing specific incidents. “In the second half, some decisions were not fair in my opinion.

But this is football and I respect the referee’s decisions. However, that’s just my personal opinion,” Taoussi remarked.

The Azam coach also praised the impact of Zidane Sereri, who came off the bench to score the last-minute equaliser, securing a vital point for his team. “Zidane is a young player, but every time he’s given a chance, he scores.

That’s exactly what we need. I’m very happy with the players,” Taoussi said.

Despite the draw, Taoussi felt his team deserved more than a point, though he acknowledged Simba’s strength.

“We didn’t only deserve a draw; we deserved to win. But this is Simba—we respect them. They have great players. However, Azam is growing step by step to become a top team in Tanzania,” he stated.

Following the 2-2 draw, Simba now have 51 points from 20 matches, with 16 wins, three draws and one loss. Azam, on the other hand, have 44 points from 21 matches, having registered 13 wins, five draws, and three losses. In their next fixture, Azam will host Namungo FC at Azam Complex, while Simba will face Coastal Union in a crucial match.