Our target in the [Tuesday] game is to burn all our energy to try to reach and achieve what we know and believe.
The team provided an update on the services of captain John Raphael Bocco who is nursing an injury. Defender Erasto Nyoni has joined the team giving the former Azam FC tactician options ahead of the Chipolopolo date. We have Nyoni and [Selemani] Matola with us, they have already joined the team in preparation for the game on Tuesday against Zambia, TFF Communications Officer Clifford Dimbo told reporters. We are not sure about Bocco s involvement, he has not been training with the team. We will wait for the doctor s report before deciding whether he will be involved or not.
The statement continued: “Chikwende also played for the Bulawayo Chiefs in Zimbabwe. We are signing him because of the targets we have set for the season, welcome to the group of winners Chikwende ‘the Bull’.”
Chikwende was spotted by Simba in January during their second-round of the Caf Champions League two-legged fixture with the striker proving thorny in Simba s defence and managed to score the only goal of the first meeting staged in Harare which saw Platinum beat Simba 1-0 to take a slim advantage heading into the return leg.
Perfect Chikwende rasmi ni Mwekundu mwenzetu
Chikwende ambaye ni raia wa Zimbabwe anacheza nafasi ya ushambuliaji.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Simba qualified for the continental competition after winning the domestic league. In the first preliminary round, they eliminated Plateau United of Nigeria 1-0 on aggregate.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi sealed their place in the group stages after an aggregate 4-1 win over Zimbabwean outfit FC Platinum in the second preliminary round. After a 1-0 loss away, thanks to a Perfect Chikwende goal, Wekundu wa Msimbazi hit back on Wednesday, January 6.
Erasto Nyoni put Simba ahead from the penalty spot in the 40th minute before Shomari Kapombe added the second in the 61st minute, John Bocco grabbed the third in added time and Clatous Chama made it 4-0 with seconds left to the final whistle.
Who shone for Simba? Wekundu wa Msimbazi made it to the group stage of the Caf Champions League and here is the list of the players who played a big role in helping the team advance. Simba SC. Aishi Manula
The custodian was high on confidence and ensured he organized his back-four well. He ensured his team did not leak a vital early goal by making a crucial save in the initial exchanges.
The Taifa Star was solid throughout and helped in buildup from the back. It explains why coach Etienne Ndayiragije always considers him for the national team assignments.