Support Simba, Yanga, gvt tells fans

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIANS have been urged to rally behind the country’s representatives Simba and Young Africans to ensure they fly high the national flag in the CAF Champions League (CAF CL) competition.

The call was made yesterday in Dar es Salaam by the Deputy Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma who insisted that the two sides need maximum support to reach the last 16 stages of the competition.

“We should all come out and support these two teams because they are representing us in the Champions League and its high time for us to come together and put behind our differences so our teams can sail into the quarterfinals,”. “During this time, we should unite as one and fully support our teams equally… though it sounds difficult, I believe that we can make it,” he said.

He added: “Simba are going to play against ASEC in Ivory Coast, I believe that they will post positive results and when they come here for their last match, all Tanzanians should support them. “The same applies to Yanga, we should support them in their upcoming home match against the Algerians as well as in their last group D match against the defending champions Al Ahly in Cairo, Egypt.

” He further noted that if both teams make it into the quarterfinals, it will be a great advantage for the country and its football status in the continent and that is what Tanzanians are looking forward to.

Concerning the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the Deputy Minister revealed that the government has given the green light for both Simba and Yanga to host their international games at the venue.

“Also, the national team Taifa Stars is allowed to play at the arena as it embraces major renovations to keep it in perfect shape, that is why the stadium has been limited to a few games,” he said.

According to him, a major facelift at the 60,000-capacity stadium will see total removal of all seats to be replaced by new ones.

Meanwhile, Simba faces ASEC Mimosas at Stade Felix HouphouetBoigny in Ivory Coast tomorrow in their fifth match of the campaign.

ASEC is currently at the top of Group B with 10 points from four games while Simba is placed second with 5 points also from four games, Jwaneng Galaxy is in the third position with four points and Wydad AC is at the bottom with three points.

Galaxy will host Wydad in Botswana on Saturday and thereafter will travel to Dar es Salaam to wind up their Group B campaign against Simba at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

On the other hand, Yanga will host CR Belouizdad at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Saturday in their fifth Champions League duels of the season.