Today, Hemed Suleiman ‘Morocco’ will lead Simba SC in their CAF Champions League preliminary round second-leg clash against Gaborone United.
Morocco has been tasked with managing the match following the departure of coach Fadlu Davids, while assistant coach Suleiman Matola will also be absent as he serves a suspension from a red card picked up in the first leg in Botswana.
This is a match of great significance both for Morocco and Simba as a whole. A victory today would elevate Morocco’s profile among Simba fans, but any other result could spark heated debate, especially given that his appointment was unexpected to many.
Morocco has enjoyed good moments in his coaching career with the Tanzania national team, Taifa Stars. Just last month, he guided Stars to their first-ever CHAN quarterfinal appearance and also secured qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to be held in Morocco this December. Leading today’s match, therefore, will not be a daunting task for him.
Since being appointed as interim coach after Fadlu’s departure, Morocco has shown close collaboration with the rest of the technical bench. He has been spotted supervising training sessions at Mo Simba Arena, working alongside his colleagues, with the team’s morale and spirit visibly high since his arrival.
Simba need a win today to qualify for the first round, though even a draw would be enough to see the Msimbazi Reds progress to the next stage.
