Ibenge concedes Simba were better than Azam FC in Mzizima derby

Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge admitted his side was very fortunate to get a point from their battling Mainland Premier League ‘Mzizima derby’ against their rivals Simba SC at Azam Complex Stadium in Chamazi on Sunday.

During the derby in which both teams struggled to create chances, the DR Congo veteran coach conceded that Simba were better at the beginning of the game.

 

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Ibenge further said, despite being outplayed in the first 45 minutes, his team showed more quality in the second half while adding that it was a good game between both teams.

Simba enjoyed better possession than Azam

“We started badly, Simba was better for the first 10 minutes, and after that we came back into the game, and we created a lot of possibilities to score,” Ibenge told Pan-Africa Football.

“In the closing stages to half-time, honestly Simba was better, they had better possession, they had the possibilities to score, and we looked too tired.

“But if you can’t win the game, then you don’t have to lose it, and today my players ran a lot, and congratulations to them because Simba was very good today (Sunday).”

On his two changes in the second half, Ibenge explained: “Yeah, but when your players are injured, it is difficult to let them stay in the field. We wanted to change because Iddy (Nado) had to come out at half-time because he felt some pain.

“It happened in the first half, and it wasn’t possible for him to continue, so we had to change him. I had to make the changes because the two players who came out were injured.

“We have a good group of players, so, when one is injured, another one comes in to replace him.”

Ibege rates the Mzizima derby highly

On how he rates the derby, Ibenge said: “The derby was amazing, and the first half was really high level, very high level, and I think Tanzanians must be proud of what they watched.

“I have made it clear Simba was better than us but we got tired but the mentality of my players to keep fighting despite looking tired cannot go unnoticed. If you ask me, we take a draw proudly, we won one point from this derby.”

Both teams will return to action on Thursday, where Simba will travel to face TRA United (formerly Tabora United) while Azam will come up against Mbeya City away.

The frustrating draw for both sides allowed leaders and defending champions Young Africans to increase their lead to six points at the top of the table.