Matola anticipates tough game for Simba SC against Mbeya City

Simba SC stand-in assistant coach Suleiman Matola has discussed the importance of winning their Tanzanian Mainland Premier League fixture against Mbeya City at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium on Thursday.

The Msimbazi Reds will return to domestic action after a disastrous start in their group stages of the CAF Champions League where they lost their opening two matches. Pooled in Group D, Simba lost their opener 1-0 against Petro de Luanda of Angola in Tanzania, before travelling away to Mali to lose 2-1 against Stade Malien.

The outcome has seen them rooted at the bottom of the group without a point and it followed with the sacking of coach Dimitar Pantev after only two months in charge.

The Bulgarian had auditioned for the job while in charge of Botswana’s FNB Premiership winners Gaborone United in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round matches played in September.

Despite the poor start in Champions League, Matola, who will be in charge of Simba in the league, says they have forgotten the outcome of the two matches and have now shifted focus to the domestic league starting with Mbeya City on Thursday.

Simba holding Mbeya City fixture with significance

“We have intensified our training since returning from Champions League game, we have arrived safely, and we have already shifted focus to the game against Mbeya City, and we know how tough they can be on a good day,” Matola told Pan-Africa Football.

“We have recovered because of jet lag from Mali, and so far everything in camp looks good and we are looking ahead to the return to league action. We are holding the Mbeya fixture with a lot of significance and importance, there is no easy game in the league.

“If you look at the league so far, there is no easy team, or easy game, each team is giving it is all, teams have become very difficult, playing from one side to the other fighting for points, so we understand the task ahead of us against Mbeya and we know what to anticipate from them.”

Matola continued: “It is true we are arriving in the league having lost two of our previous CAF Champions League matches, I don’t think it is a worrying factor for now, we have moved on and shifted back to the league, that is where our focus is, we want three points from Mbeya City, and after the next two league game, we will again shift focus to African assignment.

“Our entire focus is now on the league, and our first game that we are looking at is the Mbeya City fixture, it is what we have now on the table, and we will do everything to win it, but we will hold Mbeya City as one of our rivals in the league, so that clearly shows you the seriousness we want to give the game.

“What I know Mbeya will not come into the game wanting to lose, they will come fighting to beat us, so they will definitely give us tough competition, and it is therefore, good we go into the game without underrating them, and in my opinion, I know it will be a difficult task.”

So far in the league, Simba are lying in eighth position with nine points from three matches. They have won all the three matches, and remain unbeaten in the top-flight.

After facing Mbeya, Simba will next face Azam FC on Sunday, December 7.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.