Lwanga’s Simba devours Al Ahly, Mazembe face Al - Hilal test
Wednesday February 24 2021
Advertisement
KAMPALA- Tanzanian giants Simba SC delivered its biggest roar on the African soccer stage yesterday after defeating the world’s third best club Al Ahly 1-0 on Match Day Two of the Caf Champions League in Dar es Salaam.
With Uganda Cranes’ midfielder Taddeo Lwanga playing a pivotal role for 71 minutes, Simba relied on Mozambican winger Luís Miquissone’s swift 31st minute shot from 20 yards past custodian Mohammed El-Shenawy to beat the Egyptian club for a second Group A win in as many outings.
The tournament also gave new Simba coach Da Rosa the opportunity to gauge his squad and he has admitted they are now ready to conquer the Caf Champions League and also retain the Mainland Premier League title.
“I am very happy to all my players for giving their best and I think we are on a good way to continue our campaign for both Champions League and Premier league assignments,” Da Rosa said as quoted by
“This game against TP Mazembe was much better than the previous as we improved defensively and I can see a good future.”
On her part, Simba CEO Barbara Gonzalez revealed the main reason for staging the competition was to give the new coach a chance to examine his squad before they embark on their Champions League and league assignments.
“We gave the players a day off after winning the Simba Super Cup and we expect them to return on Wednesday in readiness for the league resumption and also Champions League matches.
“We leave for Dodoma in the morning of Wednesday ahead of our match against Dodoma Jiji on Thursday at Jamhuri Stadium, but before the match, we have been invited to visit parliament.
“At parliament, we are going there to get blessings from the ministers putting in mind we are going to represent the country in the Champions League where we play our first match on February 15, so after parliament, we will play the league and return to Dar es Salaam immediately so as to prepare for another league match against Azam FC on Sunday.”
The burly striker was then unveiled three days later after the Caf assignment but according to the club’s CEO Barbara Gonzalez, they are yet to get his clearance from Zimbabwe.
“The Zimbabwean federation has been very slow in terms of confirming and responding to this but I believe that between the next two or three days it may arrive,” Gonzalez told
Goal.
Gonzalez further confirmed they have already received the transfer certificates for the other new signings.
“We are still waiting for the ITC to arrive, we have already completed everything on our part, especially on the network, so it is upon Zimbabwe federation to speed up the process, she added.
It was Bwalya who opened the floodgates in the 39th minute after meeting a pass from Meddie Kagere to slot into an empty net. Al-Hilal responded with a well-taken goal in the 44th minute after Salim rounded up the Simba defenders to beat goalkeeper Beno Kakolanya.
The two teams headed into the half-time break tied at 1-1 but it was Simba who came back a more rejuvenated side and it was Zimbabwean striker Chikwende, signed from FC Platinum, who marked his debut with a goal after tapping home another cross from Kagere in the 72nd minute.
Coach Da Rosa then introduced returning Ghanaian Morrison, and he arrived in fashion as he scored two goals in quick succession, one in the 87th and the other in the 90th minute to seal the game for Simba.