Simba SC head coach Abdallah Kibaden has insisted that there was harmony among players and he has never lost the dressing room.
Simba SC head coach Abdallah Kibaden
Kibaden, who also played for Simba with distinctions, has recently joined the team’s technical bench, taking over from Frenchman Patrick Liewig but since he has arrived he has been accused of depriving some young players a chance to play regularly unlike his predecessor.
There have been emerging reports within the Mainland giants that the legendary coach has lost trust among players considered to be of fringe role at the club, a factor which has created division in the team.
One of the players who is not happy with the way things are being handled by the technical bench at the moment claimed that during the team’s visits to newly promoted Rhino Rangers of Tabora and Arusha’s JKT Oljoro for Mainland Premier League matches, players slept at different lodges in accordance to their role in the team.
The player, who requested for anonymity claimed further that regular starters were separated from reserve players, a scenario which angered a section of players because it does not bring about much needed unity in the team.
“We really sense lack of ability by the technical bench to motivate young players unlike the case when French coach – Patrick Liewig was in charge. I don’t know what he (Kibaden) is trying to achieve,” lamented the player.
Players who have not been used regularly by Kibaden include Hassan Khatibu, Haruna Shamte, Abdallah Seseme, Edward Christopher, Rashid Ismail, Frank Sekule, Hasan Isahaka, Marcel Keiza and Emily Mgeta. Such reports mounted yesterday when Kibaden called only 20 players to move into Bamba Beach camp ahead of their crucial league duel with Mtibwa Sugar of Morogoro at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
However, Kibaden insisted that he is not to blame because it was the leadership that set the number of players required to enter the camp and as a coach he would select players who responded well to his training programmes.
“My hands are tied and I can not decide on the number of players required to move into camp. I only receive direction from the leadership and make decision accordingly… I can not go beyond the required number, otherwise, I will have to pay extra charges from my own pocket,” said the coach.
Some of the players who entered camp are Andrew Ntalla, Kaze Gilbert, Issa Rashid, Abdulhalim Humud, Ibrahim Twaha, Nassor Said, Amis Tambwe, Ramadhani Chombo, Hassan Khatibu, Zahoro Pazi, Rashid Ismail, Betram Mombeki and Miraji Adam.
They will be joined by Ugandan duo of Abel Dhaira and Joseph Owino on Monday as well as four other players who are currently with the national soccer team, Taifa Stars in Banjul, Gambia for their final match of the Brazil 2014 World cup qualifier match that was set for late yesterday. They are Amri Kiemba, Haruni Chanongo, Jonas Gerald Mkude and Henry Joseph.
Simba have so far collected four points from two league matches. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Rhino Rangers of Tabora at the Ali Hassan Mwinyi Stadium on August 24, before beating JKT Oljoro 1-0 at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium in Arusha on August 28.
Meanwhile, Mainland side Coastal Union of Tanga will play a friendly match against Kenya’s Bandari FC at the Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga today. Coastal Union Chairman, Ahmed Aurora said Bandari FC are already in Tanga ready for the match, as both teams prepare for their respective league matches.
Source Tanzania Daily News
