Barker targets more Simba glory
ZANZIBAR: SIMBA Head Coach Steve Barker believes the club’s Federation Cup triumph has restored happiness among the Msimbazi faithful after years without silverware, while insisting his side will return next season determined to challenge for every trophy available.
Barker made the remarks after guiding Simba to a hardfought 1-0 victory over Azam FC in the Federation Cup final at Gombani Stadium in Zanzibar on Saturday.
The South African tactician also admitted his players deserve a period of rest following a demanding campaign before preparations begin for next season.
“We need a rest now, and we come back next year and we fight for every trophy that’s on offer,” said Barker after the final whistle. The Simba coach described the encounter as a typical cup final, praising his players for their resilience and commitment throughout the match.
“It was a hard, hard game. Hard fought, I think a typical cup final, but credit must go to the players. They’ve been superb since I arrived and they deserve this win 100 per cent,” he said.
Barker dedicated the victory to the club’s leadership, technical bench, support staff, players and supporters, saying the triumph was a reward for everyone connected with the club.
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“This win was for the management, the president, the chairman, the board, all the support staff and mainly the players. Most importantly, it was also for the fans so that we could reward them with a trophy,” he added.
Reflecting on the match, Barker said Simba controlled large spells of the first half and created the better scoring opportunities despite the threat posed by Azam striker Jephete Kitambala.
“I thought in the first half we were the better team. We controlled the tempo much better and created better chances,” said Barker.
He admitted the contest became more balanced after the interval before Simba eventually found the breakthrough and managed to hold on despite late pressure from Azam.
“In the second half it became a 50-50 game, but after we went one goal up and they were reduced to 10 men, they started playing more direct football and caused us some difficulty. But we managed to see it out,” he said.
