Alexandria flop is Simba`s heaviest

Simba coach Patrick Phiri

Mainland champions Simba’s 5-1 goals comprehensive demolition by Egyptian side Haras El Hodood in Alexandria last Saturday is the heaviest for the Dar es Salaam side in continental club soccer for the past four decades.

Simba have in the past lost by as high as 4-0, 4-2 and 4-1 goals defeats in a single match, but going down to five goals has been an extreme new record for the club.

Quick review of Simba’s defeats in continental soccer shows the team crashed by 4-1 goals at the hands of Cameroon’s Union Sportivo Douala in 1981 at the then National Stadium, same margin they lost to Zambia’s Nkana Red Devils in Ndola, and a 4-0 thrashing by Nigeria’s Enyimba in the last decade.

Going beyond four goals has been the biggest shocker for the team’s defeats as far as continental club soccer is concerned.

Simba, playing with confidence in Alexandria, found the tide too powerful to contain after conceding quick fire goals as early as the first half.

Defensive vulnerability and profligacy upfront were Simba’s major shortfalls during the match which they crashed out unceremoniously.

The defeat still leaves home fans in total perplexity following their 2-1 goals first leg victory at home in a fortnight.

Simba travelled to Egypt almost seven days ahead of the clash symbolizing their intention to eliminate the border guards as El Hodood are known in Alexandria.

Ending the domestic premiership league with unique unbeaten run in 22 matches, is a record most of the Simba fans and the country over thought they have a formidable squad under coach Patrick Phiri to sail through in continental soccer.

The 6-3 goals aggregate crash out has left a lot of questions to their fans at home and probably the rest of the soccer stakeholders.

The team is supposed to travel to Kigali later this week where they are expected to compete in the Kagame Cup championship.

El Hodood’s 5-1 demolition was also the biggest goal haul in all second legs of the Confederations Cup played that weekend.

Other results of the Confederations Cup matches played on Saturday shows Tunisia’s club Sportif posted 1-0 over Egyptian Petrojet, Angolan Primeiro and Cameroon’s Coton Sport battled to a barren draw, Algeria’s Belouizdad beat El Amal by 2-0 goals, Stade Malien of Mali drew blanks with Morocco’s FUS the same as DRC’s DC Motema Pembe and ASFAN.