Africa-Press – Tanzania. FORMER Simba player who now serves RS Berkane, Clatous Chama has reacted to the CAF draw that pits his team with Simba, ASEC Mimosa, and USGN as very tricky.
Chama believes all teams are tough and there wouldn’t be an easy ride. The draw will unite Chama with his former club when they meet in round three of group D matches.
Also reacted to the draw is USGN Coach Zakariyaou Ibrahim: Ibrahim said: “We are in a well-rounded group with three big clubs namely Berkane who have already won this Cup, Simba SC of Tanzania who is playing in a good championship and ASEC Mimosas who are used to this competition. Our objectives are very simple, to go ahead and qualify for the quarter-finals. We can do it. You just have to get back on track, work hard without neglecting any detail.”
In retrospect, Simba has described their CAF Confederation Cup draw as an opportunity to show the world how big the team is and that they will thoroughly prepare for the games, according to the club’s Chairman, MurtazaMangungu. Simba has been placed in group D of the Confederation Cup group stages together with RS Berkane (Morocco), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) and US Gendarmerie (Niger).
“Losing an opportunity to proceed in the Champions League was accidental and the good thing now is that the team will have enough preparations to face any opponent who will stand in our way. “Our members should be ready to support the team as they usually do and we expect to see many of them attending in big numbers all the matches that Simba will be playing at home,” he said.
According to the fixture, Simba will begin their Confederation Cup campaign at home on February 13th against ASEC Mimosas before traveling to play US Gendarmerie on February 20th. Meanwhile, Simba has maintained that parting ways with Assistant Coach Thierry Hitimana were reached after mutual consent between the two parties hence; neither of them is complaining.
This was clarified yesterday by those who reiterated there is nothing wrong within the club that prompted Hitimana to resign. “As a club, we signed a contract with him and he requested to terminate it, of which we conceded. There is no side complaining about the development since it was his own decision to resign and seek challenges elsewhere.
“We have already considered him as part of the Simba family because we always create good relationships with our employees such that next time, when he wants to return and there is an opportunity, he will be accommodated, “Mangungu said. He, therefore, urged the Simba family to avoid wallowing in propaganda being made by those who do not wish the club well but rather stick to realities disseminated by their club.
In his remarks, Hitimana also confirmed that he has left the club as a happy person saying there is nothing bad that has forced him to relieve his duties. “I have learned a lot during my brief tenure at Simba but the good thing is that we have parted peacefully such that no side is not satisfied,” he said.
He then denied claims that he has received offers from Azam and his ex-employer Namungo while insisting that whenever a coaching chance in the country comes, he will not hesitate to grab it. Elaborating on the current Simba squad, Hitimana said it is still competitive and that Head Coach Pablo Franco has already presented his recommendations to the management saying if they will be worked at, the team will be more competitive in near future.
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