Simba’s deadly trio of Jean Ahoua, Ellie Mpanzu, and Stephen Mukwala still faces a herculean task away in South Africa after a slim 1-0 home victory against Stellenbosch at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar yesterday.
Ugandan international and his partners feel, they can deliver even in South Africa because they expect their opponents to play an open game.
“Experience tells me a visiting team can’t play an open game away,” said Mukwala.
With a 1-0 lead, Simba will face Stellenbosch again in the return leg match of the Confederation Cup semi final in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday this week.
Stellenbosch, who eliminated Egyptian giants Zamalek, conceded a goal through the 23-year-old Ivorian Jean Charles Ahoua who slotted home past Oscarine Masuluke in on the stroke of halftime.
Simba’s South African-born coach, Fadlu Davids, said he expected his team to score more than one goal from the number of chances they created.
The former Orlando Pirates assistant coach feels that Simba FC had sufficient chances in the first leg but to wastefulness failed to bury the tie.
Stellenbosch FC will host Simba at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban instead of in the Western Cape.
“The players have to realise the stage we are in, we are in the semi-final stage, and in the semi-final stage, you don’t get big opportunities like we had this season, in this competition and especially in this match,” Davids said.
“So, clearly we have to improve this performance, it was definitely not good enough in terms of what the players can do and we expect, and I know, believe me, my players will be ready for the return leg once we get to South Africa.”
The 43-year-old believes Stellies did not create any meaningful opportunities outside of the aerial threat they pose from set pieces.
“I think the game was like we exactly expected, they started with long balls, long throw ins, and long throwing, corner kicks, set-pieces and transitions were their main threats, but the main threat were the long throw ins, and in the first half they stopped the ball and started long balls into the box, and then anything could happen with the weather conditions,” Davids said.
“But our objective is done in terms of keeping a clean sheet, but you know, we are a big club, Simba is a big club, and we cannot be happy with a scoreline like these especially when you have moments to make it two, to make it three, even to make it four zero.”
