Ibengé credits tactical change to Azam FC derby win against Simba SC

Tanzania Mainland Premier League side Azam FC coach Florent Ibengé revealed how a tactical change in the second half enabled his side to beat rivals Simba SC 2-0 in Mzizima derby at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.

The Ice Cream Makers went into the derby after a mixed start to their new campaign. Unlike Simba, who had a perfect start having won their opening four matches, Azam had only registered one win from four matches.

Ahead of the derby, Simba had defeated Mbeya City 3-0 while Azam had been restricted to a 0-0 draw against Singida Black Stars. All odds were against Azam to beat Simba, a team they had not beaten in over three years.

However, after a 0-0 first half, Azam turned on the screw in the second half to carry the day. Goals in the final fifteen minutes from Jephte Kitambala and Iddy Nado ensured that Azam ended their bad run of results against Simba and registered their second win of the season.

Azam second half was better than first

“We came here for a win, we came here for the three points because it is the championship and during the championship you have to take the points,” Ibengé told Pan-Africa Football.

“If you can’t take three points, you can only take one, today (Sunday), we started badly, and slowly when we understood we could win this game, we changed our game plan in the second half.

“The second half was better than the first half, we changed and did not allow them (Simba) to play, they tried to play long balls but we were more than comfortable to deal with them.”

With the league taking a break until the New Year, the Congolese tactician promised to use the opportunity to build cohension within the team ahead of the next assignment.

“We now head into the break to plan again, we want to continue working hard, we will use the break to work on many things, and we want to come back a better side. We know we also have CAF matches coming next, so we will have to be ready for the matches ahead,” he added.

The defeat left Simba fifth on the Premier League table with 12 points accumulated four wins, zero draws and one defeat. Meanwhile, the win pushed Azam to ninth with nine points from five matches.

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