Simba SC have admitted that the lack of a squad capable of competing at the international level is the main reason behind their poor performance in this season’s CAF Champions League.
Speaking yesterday before Simba departed the country for Angola, the club’s Information and Communications Manager, Ahmed Ally, said Simba’s problems did not begin at the group stage alone, but were evident from the preliminary rounds of the competition.
Ahmed explained that even qualifying for the group stage was a struggle due to the team’s inconsistent form from the early stages of the tournament.
“From the preliminary rounds it was clear that the team was not at its best. We were progressing with difficulty, and that trend continued into the group stage,” said Ahmed.
He added that Simba have failed to display their usual style of play in the group matches, which led to the loss of crucial points, citing the match against Esperance as an example, where Simba were unable to protect their lead due to individual player mistakes.
According to Ahmed, despite the slim chances of progressing, Simba will continue to fight in the remaining matches in order to protect the honor of the club and the nation.
“It is true that our chances of qualifying have become very slim, but we are not finished with the competition. We are going to play the remaining matches for the pride of Simba and Tanzania,” he said.
Simba began their CAF Champions League campaign in September last year with an away victory against Botswana’s Gaborone United, before settling for a draw at home. In the following round, Simba recorded an away win but failed to secure good results in home matches.
In the group stage, Simba have endured poor results, losing three matches and drawing one, leaving them bottom of Group D with one point after four games.
Ahmed appealed to Simba members and supporters to remain patient, noting that the club’s leadership has already started taking steps to strengthen the squad through signings made during the mid-season transfer window.
“I believe the fans have seen the efforts being made by the leadership. We are building a strong squad for next season,” he said.
