Simba roars back with convincing win over Kagera Sugar
What you need to know:
- Simba's dominance was evident throughout the match, with the goals coming from the penalty spot courtesy of Saido Ntibazonkiza in the first half, followed by strikes from Sadio Kanoute and John Bocco in the second half.
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC fans erupted in jubilation today as new coach Abdelhak Benchikha secured his first victory at the helm, guiding the Msimbazi giants to a resounding 3-0 triumph over Kagera Sugar at Uhuru Stadium.
Benchikha, who took over after Roberto Oliveira's departure last month, had previously steered Simba through two CAF Champions League matches, earning a point against Jwaneng Galaxy and suffering a narrow defeat to Wydad Casablanca.
However, today's win against Kagera Sugar marks a significant milestone for the Algerian tactician.
Simba's dominance was evident throughout the match, with the goals coming from the penalty spot courtesy of Saido Ntibazonkiza in the first half, followed by strikes from Sadio Kanoute and John Bocco in the second half.
The victory narrows the gap between Simba (3rd with 22 points) and archrivals Young Africans (2nd with 24 points), who face Mtibwa Sugar tomorrow.
Benchikha, visibly pleased with his team's performance, praised his players for their fighting spirit despite missed opportunities. "It's a good start," the coach acknowledged, "We played well and created several chances. We need to work on converting them."
Kagera Sugar coach Mecky Mexime conceded defeat, attributing Simba's superiority to his team's mistakes. "We made errors, and Simba took advantage," he admitted. "They were simply the better team today."
The win injects a much-needed dose of confidence into the Simba camp as they look to chase down Azam FC (1st, 28 points) in the race for theTanzania Premier League title.
Benchikha, with his first victory under his belt, has laid down a marker for what could be a successful tenure at the helm of the Msimbazi giants.
