Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has revealed the tactics and message he used to inspire his players to overturn a deficit against their traditional rivals, Yanga SC, in the Kariakoo Derby at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Simba secured a 2-1 victory after falling behind by a goal, with their comeback built on belief in the squad’s ability and resilience in the face of the pressure created by conceding early.
Yanga took the lead in the fifth minute through striker Peter Shalulile, who capitalised on an attack initiated by Maxi Nzengeli. However, the goal did not shake Barker’s belief that his team could recover and secure a positive result.
Speaking after the match, Barker said that although he was unhappy with Simba’s start, he saw his team gradually finding its rhythm as the minutes passed, increasing its possession and pushing Yanga deeper into their own half.
The coach added that even before half-time, his players had shown signs of improvement and created chances that could have brought an equaliser. One such opportunity was Elie Mpanzu’s shot that struck the woodwork.
"At half-time, I did not make any drastic changes to our system. Instead, I told the players to keep believing in the way we play, remain calm when in possession and not allow the goal we conceded to undermine their confidence."
"As Yanga began to struggle to cope with our pace, their players appeared to tire because of the physical effort we forced them to put into defending," Barker said.
That message appeared to pay off as Simba returned for the second half with greater determination to score. In the 68th minute, midfielder Neo Maema brought his team back into the contest with an equaliser, giving the Msimbazi Reds renewed impetus to continue attacking.
Simba did not have to wait long to complete the comeback. Four minutes after Maema’s goal, Mpanzu found the back of the net to put Simba 2-1 ahead, a scoreline that remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Barker said that before the equaliser, he had expected his team to score within the first 20 to 25 minutes of the second half, believing that a goal would change the direction of the match and improve their chances of winning.
Ultimately, that belief was rewarded even earlier than expected, as two second-half goals secured a crucial victory over their biggest rivals and sent Simba to the top of the league standings with 21 points from seven consecutive wins.
