CAFCC: Tanzania Govt speed up Mkapa readiness for Simba SC vs Berkane clash

Photo Credit - Simbs SC Tanzania.

The government of Tanzania has assured Simba SC fans across the East African country that the club’s CAF Confederation Cup return leg final against RS Berkane will be played on May 25 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

There has been uncertainty surrounding the readiness of the venue based in Dar es Salaam to host the decisive fixture after it was closed yet again for renovation works in readiness to host the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

During the latest closer, Simba were forced to take their first leg semi-final clash against Stellenbosch to Zanzibar at the New Aman Stadium. Simba won the fixture 1-0 and took the advantage for the return leg in South Africa which ended in a 0-0 draw enabling them to reach the final on a 1-0 aggregate scoreline.

With CAF already setting May 17 as the date for the first leg and the return in Tanzania on May 25, Simba were still uncertain on the venue to host the match. However, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hamis Mwinjuma has issued a firm directive to the contractor overseeing renovations at Mkapa Stadium, demanding that all key areas of the facility be completed by May 10, 2025.

“This is a matter of national pride,” said Mwinjuma as quoted by the Guardian. “We want Tanzanians to be proud and to witness a historic moment. The trophy is coming home, and this stadium must be ready to receive it.

“Over 63,000 spectators are expected to witness this historic event. We cannot afford to compromise on the quality of the pitch or any part of the stadium. The playing surface must be flawless, and the atmosphere must reflect the magnitude of the occasion.”

He concluded: “We are not leaving anything to chance. This is not just a football match, it is a continental final that will be broadcast across Africa and beyond. The image of our country is at stake, and we must deliver.”

Simba's qualification for the final marked a significant milestone in their revival. It is only their second appearance in a continental final, the first being in the 1993 CAF Cup, where they fell short against Stella Club of Cote d’Ivoire.