Simba SC sack coach Pantev after two months in charge

Tanzania Mainland Premier League giants Simba SC have wielded the axe on coach Dimitar Pantev. This follows uninspiring results in the CAF Champions League group-stage. The former Gaborone United handler has lasted less than two months on the demanding job.

 

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

With Pantev in charge of Gaborone United, they suffered a slender 0-1 loss to Simba SC in the first leg with the reverse fixture ending 1-1 in Dar es Salaam. Such results impressed management of the East African heavyweights who eventually hired Pantev.

However, back-to-back 1-0 and 1-2 losses at the hands of Petro de Luanda and Stade Malien in Group D at the CAF Champions League have seen the patience of Simba’s management wearing out. This led to the sacking of the coach announced via a statement.

“Simba club management has reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract with General Manager Dimitar Pantev and his two assistants,” the statement reads.

Without a win and bottom, Simba will return to the continental league assignments in January on the road to face Esperance.

However, the most immediate assignment is against Tabora United on Wednesday in the Tanzania Premier League. Simba occupy seventh place in the domestic league standings, eight points behind surprise leaders JKT Tanzania.

How Pantev fared at Simba

The Bulgarian presided over six games across all competitions posting three wins, one draw and two defeats, not too bad overall, but not good enough in the context of the Group D assignments.

Simba had settled for Pantev after failing to lure Miguel Gamondi from Singida Black Stars.

Sworn rivals Yanga SC’s decent start with a win and a draw in the CAF Champions’ League group-stage might have further hurt the pride of Simba prompting the decision to release the coach.

Yanga SC have found their mojo under Portuguese coach Luis Goncalves after they, too, limped their way in the second preliminary round of the Champions League under the tutelage of Romain Folz. The Frenchman lost his job after an away 1-0 loss to Silver Strikers in Malawi.

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