Barker disappointed with Simba SC result against Pamba Jiji

Simba SC head coach Steve Barker admitted their focus ahead of the Pamba Jiji Mainland Premier League fixture was to pick maximum points to improve their standing on the league table.

The Msimbazi Reds travelled to Mwanza to face the in-form Pamba Jiji at CCM Kirumba Stadium on Thursday. However, with Simba going for maximum points, Pamba Jiji under Kenyan coach Francis Baraza had other ideas.

 

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James Mwashinga provided a rapid response to Simba’s opening goal soon after the half hour mark, striking a free kick while the visiting supporters were still calming down from Anicet Oura’s 33rd minute opener.

Pamba have established themselves as one of the nation’s capable teams outside of usual contenders Simba, Young Africans and Azam FC. Despite lacking the foreign stars that Dar es Salaam’s big spenders have from around the continent, they now impressively sit in 5th place on the table.

‘It is very big disappointment’

“I think every time we play, we want to win games, and get maximum points, so when we don’t achieve the two targets, it is a very big disappointment,” Barker told Pan-Africa Football.

“We honestly knew it was not going to be an easy match, Pamba Jiji showed that they are a good team, difficult to beat. They have only lost three games prior to this game, and they showed against Azam they have the qualities.

“So, we need to be a little better in certain areas, and especially in the final third, obviously with a couple of suspension, and injuries to some of our strikers, and maybe we didn’t have to many options to sort of changing things.”

‘How we respond will be important’

Barker concluded: “It is very disappointing result of course, but once again, we are also showing that we are a team that is heading the right direction, with the right momentum, a little bit of setback today, but we are always going to get setbacks on the way, but how we respond is the important thing.

“We have two games coming up before the FIFA break, and it will important that we pick up maximum points in those two matches.”

The outcome of the fixture, was a missed opportunity for Simba, who had a rare opportunity to gain ground on rivals and leaders Young Africans.

Earlier on Thursday, another contender failed to close the gap on Young Africans after Azam FC were held to a 0-0 draw by Mashujaa FC.

Only one of Tanzania’s four major clubs earned a victory from the midweek matches on Wednesday when Singida Black Stars defeated Tanzania Prisons 2-1.