Kagere: Saoura beatable on home turf
Simba striker Meddie Kagere celebrates after scoring in a past match. photo | FILE
Dar es Salaam. Simba Sports Club deadly striker Meddie Kagere is optimistic that his side will come up with positive results against JS Saoura this Saturday during their African Champions League Groups Stage encounter.
The match, which is scheduled to take place at the 20 Août 1955 Bechar Stadium, will start from 10pm (East African time) and will be officiated by Congolese referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo. Ngambo will be assisted by referees Olivier Safari Kabene also from DR Congo and Soulaimane Amaldine of Comoro. Kagere, who is second in the scoring chart with six goals, said they need victory in order to improve their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals.
Moataz Al-Mehdi of Libya’s side, Al Nasr, is at the top with seven goals. However, Al Mehdi’s team is out of the Group Stages round. Simba are now placed second with six points after playing four matches. Al Ahly is at the top with seven points while Js Saoura is third with five points and Vita Club of DR Congo are at the bottom with four points.
However, all the teams in Group D have the chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.
The Rwandan national said the victory will be very sweet for them despite the fact that they are facing an uphill task ahead of the match. Kagere said his team emerged with good results against JS Saoura, whom they beat 3-0 at the National Stadium, saying, however, that their rivals were now focusing on a revenge.
“We need to be well focused all the time in the encounter and not to be satisfied with our previous win. The same team spirit when we played Al Ahly and won 1-0 and again won 3-0 against JS Saoura should be applied in the encounter,” said Kagere.
Meanwhile; Simba’s Directors Board member, Musley Al Ruwey has said climate is not a problem for them and they have already done all preparations. “I am here in Bechar and the climate is normal and not too cold as we thought. We have booked into Grouz Hotel which has all facilties including training ground,” said Ruwey.
Ruwey said they have taken all precautions assured Tanzanians that victory is the must.
