Simba SC vs Azam FC never an easy fixture – says Matola

Simba SC stand-in coach Suleiman Matola has warned his teammates to stay alert when they come up against Azam FC in the Mainland Premier League ‘Mzizima derby’ at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

While the Msimbazi Reds will head into the derby buoyed by the 3-0 win against Mbeya City, the Ice Cream Makers struggled to break down Singida Black Stars in their 0-0 draw.

Simba will head into the derby in a perfect run of four straight wins in the top-flight.

Azam will pose difficulties against Simba

“We know it is not going to be an easy game, Simba versus Azam is always a difficult fixture in any given season, it is a derby, and derby is not an easy game for any side, so as Simba we are taking the derby with a lot of seriousness,” Matola told Pan-Africa Football.

“Our preparations have gone well, and the good thing is all the players are fit and available to play a role, we know Azam they have a quality team, and a good coach, so we know it won’t be an easy task, we know they have invested a lot to challenge for the league title, and that makes the derby even more difficult.

“Azam play with a lot of balance, and whenever you come up against them, you have been to very keen. We have not decided, who will start in the game, we still have another training session to make up the starting XI.”

However, Matola admitted for Simba to carry the bragging rights in the derby, they will have to be clinical in the final third.

“It is something we need to work on, and I am sure we have prepared more than enough on how to take the chances that we create. Against Mbeya we created a host of chances but could only get three goals, if we used the chances the outcome could have even been higher.

“We will make sure we turn our chances into goals against Azam.”

The stalemate against Singida marked Azam’s third consecutive draw in the top-flight and left them with only one win from their opening four league fixtures.