CAFCL: Simba SC assistant Matola warns against underrating Petro de Luanda

Tanzanian Premier League giants Simba SC assistant coach Suleiman Matola has discussed their readiness to take on Petro de Luanda of Angola in matchday one of the CAF Champions League group stage at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The Msimbazi Reds have been drawn in Group D alongside Petro de Luanda, ES Tunis, and Stade Malien. Ahead of their group opener, Simba’s Matola has explained how they have prepared to take on the Angolan side.

Simba will take first game with seriousness

“We have good training sessions heading into the game, and we know there is no easy game at this stage of the competition, any game at this stage is not easy, and we don’t want to underrate our rivals,” Matola told Pan-Africa Football.

“We are looking at the game with a lot of seriousness, we know it won’t be easy, but we have prepared enough to do our best and win the first game of the group stage.”

Matola added: “We are coming up against a team that we know very well, we have been following their games, we have been watching when they play, and we know they are not an easy side to break down.

“Petro is a team with a lot of experience in this competition, previously they have performed well, so when you come up against such a team, you need to be very alert, but despite their good history in this competition, we have prepared well to take them on.”

Matola further confirmed Simba will miss the services of goalkeeper Moussa Camara and defender Abdulrazack Hamza against the Angolan side.

“Yes, we will play without Camara and Hamza, but we have enough quality to come in and play in their position, we don’t have to worry about this. Both players are out injured, and we have to replace them because the Petro game is a very important game for us,” added Matola.

Asked on what Simba will be targeting from the group stage campaign, Matola responded: “Our main target is to qualify for the knockout stages, we want to go to the semifinals. We have set the target, and we believe we have what it takes to achieve our target.”

After the game against Petro, Simba’s matchday two will be against Stade Malien of Mali in Bamako on Friday, November 28. Tickets for the Petro fixture have been sold out.