Simba SC head coach Abdallah Kibaden ‘King’ has dispelled dressing room disharmony rumours; instead the legend said he is focused to celebrate his 64th birthday with the Mainland Premier League title this season.
Kibaden called a rare press conference at the club house along Msimbazi Street in Dar es Salaam yesterday and underlined his determination to win big for the club.
He also demanded his players to show character. However, his determination will be tested today, when his charges take on Mbeya’s Prisons in a top flight match at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam which will be broadcasted live by Azam TV through TBC 1.
“I’ve requested my players to show character and give me the league title as my 64th anniversary gift. I’m confident they will be able to reward me with the league title at the end of the season,” said Kibaden confidently.
Speaking about today’s game against Prisons, Kibaden who yesterday celebrated his 64th birthday predicted a tough match, however, he assured the Msimbazi Street team fans that they will go for a maximum points in effort to make sure they continue to stay on top of the league table.
“We have rectified the errors which we made in the past game against Ruvu Shooting and the squad is ready to face the challenge from Prisons…I have no doubt my team will give me and our fans something to celebrate for,” the former Taifa Stars striker said.
Speaking on reports that there’s a sort of go slow going on among some players in the squad which is a result of low form performance shown by some key players, the veteran coach dispelled such claims, saying nothing like that has taken or is taking place at team camp or in the field.
He said the result which they got last week was part of the game and that scoring few goals doesn’t mean there’s sabotage going on in the team.
“Scoring few or many goals in a match depends on the opponent you are playing with and as the league is pushing ahead the more the competition become tougher.
“Our ace strikers Amis Tambwe and Betram Mwombeki are also facing tight surveillance from defenders because our opponents already know their goal scoring abilities and they don’t want to be destroyed and humiliated by the pair,” added the coach.
On his side Jamhuri Kihwelo ‘Julio’ who is Kibaden’s assistant said the rumors which has been spreading about dressing room disharmony within the team is the usual antics which occurs in build up to a clash between Simba and Yanga.
The derby clash is due next weekend. Julio assured Simba fans and soccer lovers that there’s peace and harmony in the team and they live like one happy family as there are no conflict between the coaches and players or player with fellow player.
Simba are on the drivers’ seat on 15 points, one above second placed Azam FC and Mbeya City and three above reigning champions Yanga. Yanga will be facing Kagera Sugar at Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba, in a match predicted to be tricky for both sides.
Yanga have bagged 12 points so far and sits fourth in the league table; while Kagera has 11 points, meaning victory is a must for both sides in order to attain a better position is the league standing.
If Yanga manage to outsmart their host Kagera Sugar in today’s match and Simba lose their match against Prisons, the holders may jump to the driver’s seat for the first time this season by goal difference but only if they manage to score more than three goals.
By BETRAM LENGAMA, Tanzania Daily News
