CAFCL: Simba SC were not superb in first half of Gaborone United draw – Suleiman

Simba SC stand-in coach Hemed Suleiman has admitted that the Tanzanian Premier League giants started their return leg game of the CAF Champions League on a slow pace against Gaborone United of Botswana at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The Msimbazi Reds went into the game enjoying a 1-0 advantage and needed a draw of any kind to progress to the second preliminary round of the lucrative competition. However, they scored first from the penalty spot courtesy of Jean Ahoua.

A determined Gaborone side continued to fight and they levelled matters in the 58th minute also from the penalty spot converted by Lebogang Ditsele. Speaking after the game, Suleiman confessed that Simba were not good enough but the most important thing was to make sure that they qualify.

“It was a tough game, it was a game which had many things to talk about, but like I had said before the game in previous interviews, our intention was for Simba to qualify, and I am happy we have qualified,” Suleiman told Pan-Africa Football.

“We started the first half but couldn’t manage it better, we tried to create chances, but after 20 minutes we tried to manage the game, and I think we benefited from the improved display because we got a penalty, and scored, and it brought us back into the game.

“In the second half, we only created two meaningful chances, we were supposed to kill off the game, but we couldn’t. All in all I congratulate the players for the qualification.”

Gaborone United bowed out because of Simba experience

Gaborone United coach Dimitar Pantev, who made one change to the team which faced the Red Lions in the first leg a fortnight ago, conceded defeat saying Simba had prevailed because of the experience they have gained playing in the international stage.

“I don’t think the match was tough for my team, we tried to play football, we tried to keep the ball, we tried to play with confidence, we tried to use an offensive style of play, so we were very flexible and did everything to win the game,” said Pantev.

“We tried to play football, but we are not like Simba, Simba is a big team, but we played without fear, and we are the team, who dominated most of the time, we were better in ball possession, but in some moments they (Simba) used their quality, and sometimes quality can give you results.

“But I am proud of my boys, I think both of the matches, and expect some moments, maybe because we don’t get such experience in international tournaments before, it really worked against us.”

He added: “I tried to talk to my guys and explained to them we are here to win the game, and they should trust the process, and we can score, our tactical power was not better, and we gave away a penalty because of a misunderstanding between my players at the back.”

He concluded: “I think this is football, we cornered Simba, and in most of the times, they tried to use free-kicks and corners to put us under pressure, I think the match was not meant for us, and the result is not positive, so we are out of the tournament.”

Simba will face the winner between Simba Bhora (Zimbabwe) against Nsingsizwe Hotspurs (Eswatini) in the second preliminary round.

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