Fadlu seeks positive away results
SIMBA SC Head Coach, Fadlu Davids has stressed the importance of securing an away goal as his side prepares to face Al Masry in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals at New Suez Stadium in Egypt on April 2.
Fadlu outlined his team’s strategy and focus ahead of the crucial fixture.
The team arrived in Egypt yesterday. “The focus is on securing an away goal,” said Davids. “In matches like this, the weight of an away goal is extremely important.
We understand that the match will be decided at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, so whether we win, lose, or draw in Egypt, the crucial part of the tie will come back to Dar es Salaam.” The coach also provided his analysis of the Egyptian side, noting their strength and style of play:
“Al Masry is probably the strongest team we have faced in the competition so far. They play with a three-man defence, are quite aggressive and press high. It’s going to be a tough away match, but we have done our homework. We have watched their games and are fully prepared.”
Despite the tough challenge ahead, Fadlu remains confident in his squad’s abilities.
“We know it won’t be easy, but we believe in our team. We are focused on getting through this match and securing a result that will put us in a good position for the return leg.”
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The return leg will be played on April 9th. Reflecting on his own experience, Fadlu, who previously coached Orlando Pirates to the final of the CAF Confederation Cup, shared his personal ambition:
“When I was coaching Orlando Pirates, we reached the final but lost to Berkane on penalties.
“That experience gives me extra motivation to win this tournament, but right now we can’t think about the final. Our focus is entirely on Al Masry and overcoming them to qualify for the semifinals,” he said.
Simba have reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League on three occasions— 2020/21, 2022/23 and 2023/24—and made it to the same stage in the CAF Confederation Cup during the 2021/22 season.
Yet, despite these strong performances, they have consistently fallen short in the quarter-final stage. In the 2020/21 CAF Champions League, Simba was eliminated by the South African team Kaizer Chiefs with an aggregate score of 4-3.
During the 2021/22 CAF Confederation Cup, Simba faced Orlando Pirates and lost in a penalty shootout after the two-legged matches ended in a 1-1 draw.
The 2022/23 CAF Champions League campaign ended in disappointment for Simba when they were again defeated in a penalty shootout by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, following a 1-1 aggregate score.
In the 2023/24 season, Simba w ere knocked out by the Egyptian giants Al Ahly with a score of 3-0.
