CAFCL: Simba SC will give 100 percent against Esperance – Barker

Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has discussed the importance of their CAF Champions League fixture against Espérance Sportive de Tunis at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The Msimbazi Reds will go into the matchday four at the back of three straight defeats in Group D. The outcome has put their qualification chances to the knockout stages at risk.

 

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However, ahead of their reverse fixture against Espérance, Barker is confident they have what it takes to win the game and return into contention. Simba lost the first meeting 1-0 away on Saturday, January 24.

“I do believe we can get a win’

“As you rightly said, obviously I think it is very clear for everybody and ourselves, and as a team that tomorrow (Sunday), is a last opportunity to stay alive in the group, so, you know there is no option but to win the game,” Barker told Pan-Africa Football.

“I do believe that we can get a win tomorrow. We still have hope to reach the knockout stages, obviously it will be our responsibility to go away next week and the last week and go for a win.”

He added: “If we don’t win tomorrow (Sunday), then it is over for us. It is very important we approach the game with such a mentality; we have prepared very well; the team is progressing from a lot of last week.

“A lot of our players, who were unavailable initially are now available, a lot of the news players who have joined the team, a lot of them had debuts during our match in mid-week league match, so, I think we are in a good space in terms of availability, and options on offer for us to be able to use.”

Discussing ES Tunis, the South African coach said: “We all know they are a good team; we do know that if we have to win the game, we must play very well.

“But we do believe we have an opportunity with our fans behind us, playing at home, that we can go out and give everything that we can, 100 percent go out, and win the march.”

‘It will be a good game’

Speaking on behalf of the players, Morice Abraham, said: “We are very prepared to face them, it will be a good game, and we are very aware of how good they are, but we want to do as good as we can to win the game.”

Simba are lying last in the group without a win, nor a draw.