SportPesa Super Cup: We will skin Nakuru AllStars alive, says Simba

Simba Sc [Photo: Courtesy]

By ERICK OCHIENG’ IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

 It is a while since 18 times Tanzanian Premier League (TPL) champions Simba introduced another trophy in their decorated cabinet.

The last time the reds won a major cup was half a decade ago when they clinched TPL in style. Since then, it seems, the gods have forsaken Simba who are now desperate to lift anything, and I mean anything even if it is a plate.

This pain was compounded a few weeks ago when they missed the 2016-2017 TPL trophy by a whisker. Guess who denied them the chance?

Yanga! Their perennial devil in the trade- Despite the two arch rivals ending the season at 68 points apiece, Yanga were awarded the trophy on superior goal differences, a fact that did not go down well with Simba who already had lodged another case with the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF).

The case revolves around a key player, Mohammed Faki and Kagera Sugar FC. The latter had fielded Faki against Simba in their second leg encounter. Simba ended up losing to the hosts 2-1.

Simba had a catch in the match. They knew Faki was ineligible for the game as he already had accumulated three yellow cards which technically barred him from playing the next game.

Simba lodged a complaint with TFF and were awarded the three vital points. This meant they were in confident command of the TPL log.

But this did not go down well with Yanga who protested bitterly on behalf of Kagera Sugar and their influence saw Simba docked the points. This ultimately gave Yanga advantage to win the league. The case is now with Fifa.

It is on this premise that Simba have vowed to win the SportPesa Super Cup to prove their critics wrong, especially Yanga fans.

“There are two reasons why we are contesting this trophy. The first one is to win it after we were denied our rights in the TPL; the second one is for money. You play TPL for a year to win Tsh80 million and you play SportPesa Super Cup for a week to win Tsh67million.Which is better?” posed Simba head coach Joseph Omog.

Omog has warned Nakuru AllStars to prepare for a rough ride in their SportPesa Super Cup quarterfinals encounter at 4.15pm at Uhuru Stadium today(Tuesday).

“I don’t know about this team, we have never met before but what I know is we will win with a huge margin,”Omog predicted.

Omog revealed that he has been using his goal keeper trainer, Abdul Idd Salim, who is a Kenyan, to give him tips and more information about Nakuru AllStars.

“Salim has studied Nakuru, it seems he knows them like the palm of his hands, he has already furnished us with key points which we will use to execute the duty,” Omog quips.

Despite his confidence, Omog is also relatively worried following departure of his ten key players who have linked up with their various national teams. “I will use a contingent of 17 players. My team is a mixture of senior and young players of which eight are new recruits,” he said.

Key Simba players to miss the tournament following national team call up

1. Saidi Ndemla (Tanzania)

2. Ibrahim Ajib (Tanzania)

3. Mzamiru Yasin (Tanzania)

4. Shiza Kichuya (Tanzania)

5. Abdi Banda (Tanzania)

6. Mohammed Hussein (Tanzania)

7. Jonas Nkude (Tanzania)

8. Laudit Mavugo (Burundi)

9. Juuko Murushid (Uganda)

10. James Kotei (Ghana)