Simba Off to Face Wydad

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

25 May 2011

AN 18-man squad of the Mainland soccer giants, Simba, was expected to leave for Cairo, Egypt early on Thursday morning to face Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, in the third round play off of the CAF Champions League scheduled to take place at the Petrosport Stadium on Saturday.

Simba vice-chairman, Geoffrey Nyange ‘Kaburu’ said on Wednesday the team’s delegation will comprise head coach, Ugandan Moses Basena, his current assistant Abdallah Kibadeni, team doctor Cosmas Kapinga, club chairman Ismail Aden Rage and Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) official, Mohsen Balhabou.

The players are goalkeepers Juma Kaseja and Ally Mustapha, defenders Salum Kanoni, Juma Jabu, Amir Maftah, Juma Nyoso, Kelvin Yondani, midfielders Jerry Santo and Amri Kiemba.

Others are Mohamed Banka, Hillary Echesa, strikers Musa Hassan ‘Mgosi,’ Nicholas Nyagawa, Ahmed Ally ‘Shiboli,’ Emmanuel Okwi, Shija Mkina and Salum Aziz Gilla.

Nyange said the team has prepared well for the match and is ready to defend the country’s pride by dispatching the Moroccans. He said coach Basena has vowed to do without the club’s former dependable duo of Mbwana Samata and Ugandan Patrick Ochan, who have been blocked by CAF from featuring for the Msimbazi Street side in the match.

Samata and Ochan have been sold to TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Simba recently sought clarification from CAF on whether the club could use the two players against Wydad Casablanca and CAF’s response was that the duo was not eligible for the game.

“The coach has said he is ready to use the available players for the match. We knew from early on that CAF might rule against our plan, thus, we were prepared for whatever response, said Nyange.

As Simba prepare to confront the Moroccans, TFF president, Leodegar Tenga, has urged the former Mainland Premier League champions to fully exploit the opportunity for the betterment of Tanzanian soccer.

Tenga said the CAF Champions League third round play off is a crucial opportunity for Simba players to showcase their talents and possibly win professional stints outside the country. “I wish Simba all the best in the play off against Wydad Casablanca.

This is a crucial chance for Simba players to promote Tanzanian soccer and they should never hesitate to seize it,” he said.

“If Simba progress to the league stage of the tournament, they will have a chance to play almost eight matches, so, there is no doubt that Tanzania will also benefit a lot from their success,” added Tenga.

He said he was optimistic Simba have prepared well for the duel and are ready for whatever challenges ahead of them.

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