Ligi Kuu Bara: Matola to rotate Simba SC for Pamba Jiji clash

Photo Credit - Simba SC Tanzania.

Simba SC assistant coach Selemani Matola has called on his players not to underrate relegation-threatened Pamba Jiji when the two sides face off in a vital Mainland Premier League fixture at KMC Stadium on Thursday.

The Msimbazi Reds head into the third game of their four games in hand seeking victory to close in on table leaders and defending champions Young Africans (Yanga SC). A win for Simba will see them cut Yanga’s lead at the summit to four points.

Ahead of the fixture, Matola admitted that most of their players are tired after returning from the CAF Confederation Cup campaign, where they defeated Stellenbosch of South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the final. He has promised to rotate the squad to keep them fresh and fit ahead of subsequent matches.

“The best news we have heading into this fixture is all the players are fit and available, no one picked up an injury from the JKT Tanzania game. All the players are in camp training and available to face Pamba Jiji,” Matola told Pan-Africa Football.

“We know as a team that it is not going to be an easy game, because of the position that Pamba Jiji find themselves in. They have a good team, but are not in a good position. We all know they are fighting to avoid relegation, and this will make the game even tougher for us.

“But all in all, we have prepared for the game, we know what to anticipate from such a game. All we need is the three points and we are ready to fight for a win. It is true this is a game in hand for us, it is the third game in hand in a week, and we knew it would not be easy.

“Playing four matches in a space of ten days, after every two days, it won’t be easy for us. We all know players are not machines but human beings. We just came from a CAF game, they are tired, and we will continue to rotate.

“So we knew the four games in hand would not be easy, but we have managed two, which we have won, and have two more to go. We have made plans, despite the tough times ahead. We want to take away 12 points because if we want to win the league, we must fight for such points, so we can’t slide. We want to be close to the top, and must not drop points now.”

While Simba are lying second with 63 points from 24 matches, Pamba are placed 13th, one place above the relegation zone, with 27 points from 26 outings.