Simba SC head coach Dylan Kerr is unfazed by the threat Azam FC poses, exuding confidence that his team will carry the day come Saturday.
The Vodacom Premier League resumes this weekend with the Simba-Azam match highlighting fixtures. They will square up at the National Stadium.
Azam go into the eagerly awaited encounter as the table toppers having garnered 25 points after playing nine matches. They are closely followed by the defending champions, Young Africans, who have 23 points.
Simba have had an impressive run too compared to preceding seasons as they occupy the fourth place with 21 points. They have played nine matches. The Msimbazi Street giants have pitched a camp in Zanzibar, honing their skills ahead of the league resumption. The British tactician told The Citizen yesterday that he was content with his squad, adding that there is a stiff competition for the starting place.
“I am happy with what I am seeing during training sessions; there is a healthy competition for the first XI, so by the time the league resumes, I will surely be spoilt for choice,” said the Maltese-born Englishman.
He continued: “We are aware of the threat that Azam FC will be posing on Saturday. They are a strong team with brilliant players and we respect them
“However, considering our preparations, I am upbeat that we will carry the day. We already have a strategy that we believe will work against them.”
According to him, the technical bench will rejig the squad heading into the remainder of the season with hopes that Simba will soon be in the driver’s seat.
“Our target is to go top and I am optimistic that we have the quality to do that. We have been boosted by arrivals of a few players who did not play during the first part of the season, so I am really looking to a good finish.” Simba have strikers Paul Kiongera, Danny Lyanga and Hija Ugando who Kerr believes will add a competitive edge in his striking force.
The forwards are expected to challenge Hamis Kiiza, Ibrahim Ajibu and Mussa Mgosi who led the attacking department in their first nine matches.
He disclosed that only two players; Juuko Murshid and Awadh Juma are not in the camp for different reasons. Murshid, who was with his national team, Uganda, will have a few days of rest following his country’s 2015 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup victory in Ethiopia on Saturday.
He said Awadh was still finialising contractual issues with the club, thus he is uncertain to feature against Azam.
Additional reporting Citizen.
