Simba’s Head of Information and Communication, Ahmed Ali, has boasted that it is a great honour for the Msimbazi Reds to play their CAF Champions League group-stage matches at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium as Tanzania’s representatives.
On Sunday, November 23, Simba will play their first Group D match against Petro Atletico, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
Ahmed stated that Simba have built a special reputation at the stadium—something others have failed to achieve—and it is no surprise to see them “running away” to play their matches in Zanzibar.
“People have run away from Benjamin Mkapa, people fear Benjamin Mkapa, people have failed at Benjamin Mkapa. This is a huge stadium that everyone is afraid of.”
“We must go and show in action that we are the true owners of this stadium. For us, it’s a very small pitch—we enter like a tiny canoe and fill it up completely.”
“While others are running away, this is the time to show that we love this stadium, we are comfortable in this stadium, and it is the responsibility of every fan to come to the grounds.”
“On that day, let’s go and show them that they ran away for nothing, because we have the ability to enter the stadium and fill it,” Ahmed boasted.
Simba are the only club remaining in Dar es Salaam to play their home CAF Champions League matches at the Mkapa Stadium, while Yanga, Azam FC, and Singida BS have chosen to host their games at the New Amaan Complex.
