CAFCL: Simba SC coach Barker stays positive ahead of Petro de Luanda clash

Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has remained positive as they prepare to face Petro de Luanda in their matchday five of the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

The Msimbazi Reds will head into the fixture looking for their first win in the competition. Simba have lost three of their opening matches, only picking their first points in the 2-2 draw against Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

During the match against Espérance, Simba had taken a 2-0 lead at the half-time break but we pegged in the second period for the draw. The result was not received well by Simba fans, who demanded for answers.

 

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Ahead of the game in Luanda, the South African coach has issued a message to Simba fans to stay behind the team while promising an improved performance.

‘We know the game will be difficult’

“We have had good preparations heading to the game, we have prepared ourselves in a good way, and we believe we are going to show a good game and get the three points away,” Barker told Pan-Africa Football.

“We know the game will be difficult, we are playing away against a very good team, but we have come here to do our best and return home with victory. We will do everything to achieve our target.”

Barker added: “We gave away a two-goal lead in the last match, but we have psyched the players to forget about the game and focus against Petro. We need a win in the competition because we only have two matches to go.”

Speaking on behalf of the players, Neo Maema said: “We players know it is not easy to play with Petro away from home, but within our team there have been big changes in the last two matches.

 

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“We have played well. I believe we will continue that and get an away win.”

Simba are lying last in Group D with one point and they know their chances to reach the knockout stages are very slim.