May 22, 2021 - 05:04 pm By Staff Reporter
Kaizer Chiefs survived an onslaught from Simba SC to advance to the CAF Champions League semi-finals on Saturday afternoon.
Leonardo Castro, who came on early in the first half last Saturday,, was handed a start up top by the Amakhosi alongside Samir Nurkovic and Lebogang Manyama.
Simba targeted an early breakthrough from a shot around the area by Mzamiru Yassin, but he went over the top before goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma smothered the host from a corner-kick.
The Amakhosi didn’t wait long to come alive as a few minutes before the midway stage Manyama followed by Nurkovic asked questions of the defence with smartly taken shots in on goal.
First of all, we have to show respect to them. Chiefs are not as easy as some may feel, they are a very strong side who play a high-intensity game and our first assignment is to ensure we lower the tempo.
Mnyama arrived in South Africa on Monday, five days ahead of the match. The former Taifa Star is impressed with the way the 21-time Tanzania Mainland League champions have been training and is hopeful of getting a favourable result ahead of the second leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Every player is in good shape, we have had several sessions and players are adapting considering the fact that it is very cold here, Matola continued.