Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
1 April 2011
DESPITE brimming with confidence ahead of their tricky return leg match of the African Champions League against Simba, two-time African Champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have opted to play mind games on their actual arrival time in Dar es Salaam.
Mazembe were expected in the city on Friday morning but they were, until later in the evening, yet to arrive at the Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport.
The Congolese side, which is aiming for a third successive triumph in the African Champions League after winning the trophy back-to-back in 2009 and last year, will play their hosts at the National Stadium tomorrow.
Simba went down 3-1 to TP Mazembe in the first leg match played at the Stade de la Kenya in Lubumbashi a fortnight ago and needs a 2-0 victory over the latter to qualify for the second round. Information from TP Mazembe website revealed that the team was expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam on Friday but no specific time was mentioned.
The side had intensive training under coach, Senegalese Lamine N’diaye, mid this week in which the tactician drilled his players in both technical and tactical approaches. N’diaye, who was said to be in great shape after recovering from flu, went as far as bolstering his team’s aggressiveness with a view to destabilizing Simba at the latter’s backyard.
The squad’s preparations received a huge boost following the arrival of several dependable professionals from Zambia, who include striker Given Singuluma and midfielder Rainford Kalaba, as well as Congolese players who also feature for the DRC national team. The players joined their team mates early this week.
Mazembe have opted to create a friendly atmosphere in the match by transporting a handful of fans from Lubumbashi and nearby towns to cheer the team. Fifty supporters from Kolwezi, Likasi, who were joined by others living in Lubumbashi, were scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam on Thursday by cars ready to support their beloved side in anticipation for yet another successful spell in the lucrative competition.
The Congolese media comprising reporters from Chain Nyota radio and television stations from Lubumbashi, as well as the Congolese National Radio Television (RTNC) and Digital Congo were also expected to arrive and cover the game.
Simba have equally been training seriously ahead of the anxiously awaited duel and the team’s head coach, Zambian Patrick Phiri has already promised to lead his players into a great battle for a place in the next round.
Phiri, who travelled back to his home in Lusaka earlier last week to attend to family issues, returned back to resume his duties, which were temporarily handled by the club’s former coach and player, Abdallah Kibaden ‘King.’
Simba will have everything to play for on Sunday and the expected huge turnout of local fans at the 60,000-seater National Stadium will hopefully offer the much needed morale boost. A win for the Msimbazi Street side will rekindle its memorable trek in the 2003 African Champions League qualifying stage, in which the team knocked out the then defending champions Zamalek of Egypt by penalties at the latter’s venue.
Simba’s major success in the African Champions League came in the same season in which the team, which was then coached by Kenyan James Siang’a, qualified for the league stage of the major club event in the continent but failed to progress to the semi-finals.
The team finished third in their group behind leaders Enyimba of Nigeria and second placed Ismailia of Egypt while ASEC Abidjan of Cote d’ Ivoire came last. Enyimba went on to win the trophy.
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Tanzania: Mazembe Apply Mind Games