Barker says Simba SC were unlucky against Azam in Mzizima derby

Simba SC head coach Steve Barker stated his team showed quality against Azam FC during their Mainland Premier League ‘Mzizima derby’ despite not managing to secure maximum points on Sunday.

The two Tanzanian rivals came face to face in Chamazi at Azam Complex Stadium in the eagerly-awaited Dar es Salaam derby which could end up producing no goals as it ended 0-0.

 

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Simba looked better side from first whistle, and despite Azam seizing control in the last stages to the half-time break, the Msimbazi Reds took control yet again in the second period but were not able to get the winning goal.

Simba looked only side to score winner

“We did have a really good start, obviously the big chance early on, and you know in games like this, those are the chances we need to take,” Barker told Pan-Africa Football.

“It became a little bit 50-50 in the last 30 minutes of the first half, so we redressed the issue at half-time and our structure was again much better in second half, and I felt we played a lot better, and it looked like there was only one team that was going to get the winning goal.

“Obviously we tried our best to win the game, but we were a little bit unlucky maybe with the penalty shouts, the couple of box scrambles off the line, in and around the box. We made chances, Rushine (De Reuck) missed chance at the far post.

Azam never created much

“I don’t think the second half they (Azam) created much, to put us in too much stress, so, I think we were a little bit off balance and unlucky not to get the win, but I thought especially in the first half, two good tactical teams were on display.

“Every team wanted to impose their game plan in the first half, but in the second half, we were the better team.”

Both teams will return to action on Thursday, where Simba will travel to face TRA United (formerly Tabora United) while Azam will come up against Mbeya City away.

The frustrating draw for both sides allowed leaders and defending champions Young Africans to increase their lead to six points at the top of the table.