Simba: Sudan tour will fortify squad
SIMBA have insisted that the mini-international matches lined up in Sudan will give them the much needed boost ahead of the start of CAF Champions League duels with the target to reach the semifinal stage.
The Msimbazi Street Reds face Asante Kotoko of Ghana today in their first international friendly match before playing Al Hilal on August 31st to wind up their international friendly matches. Both matches will help the club to strengthen the squad.
Then on September 3rd, Simba will host As Arta Solar of Djibouti at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam before playing KMC in their third round match of NBC Premier League at the same venue on September 7th.
“For us, being invited to participate in the mini-tournament in Sudan is a big privilege because, to be honest, despite starting the Premier League well, our team is yet to get the usual rhythm we are used to.
“As such; the only place where we can generate that quality is through these international friendly matches which gives coach enough time to assess his team and sort out all challenges which surfaces,” said Simba’s Media and Communications Manager Ahmed Ally yesterday.
He added: “The good thing about the min-tournament is that we are playing against big teams like Asante Kotoko and Al Hilal which will give us good games because both teams are of champions league status.”
Giving his opinion on the progress of the team, Ally said there is a big improvement even though a lot of work is needed before reaching the required standards of the club.
“We have played two league matches and in our first game against Geita Gold, we netted three goals while in the second duel versus Mtibwa Sugar, we scored two goals. In both encounters, a lot of clear scoring chances were made and that alone gives us confidence of doing much better in follow-up fixtures,” said him.
Moreover, Ally noted that Head Coach Zoran Manojlovic is executing his responsibilities well to the extent that players themselves should have extra skills and not require anything to be told by the coach.
“They have been taught on how to build up and create scoring opportunities… what is demanded now is for them to transform such opportunities into goals and that is a special skill which players should have without depending on the coach,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Simba fans have been encouraged to accompany the team in Malawi for the first leg match of Champions League slated on September 10th at Bingu Stadium in Lilongwe, revealing the transport fare as 150,000/- per person.
“The club has provided the official bus used by the senior team for the trip and we want many people to seize this chance. They just need to have a passport as well as certificates for Covid-19 and Yellow fever,” Ally said.
