Simba in a do-or-die clash with Egypt

It’s a moment of truth Kenya’s Kisumu Simba today when they confront defending champions Sharkia from Egypt in a match they must win to make the Africa Cup Clubs Championships final on Sunday.

Their compatriots, Green Sharks, went down to another Egyptian side, Eastern 0-2 in a tough duel at City Park yesterday. Match-wise, the Egyptian champions were a better side to seal victory in the first 25 minutes after they hammered home both goals from penalty corners through Mamdouh Mahmoud and Ahmed Mohammed in the 19th and 25th minutes.

Kisumu Simba will take on Sharkia in the last match of the day at 4pm while Eastern have a cracker against Yobe Desert Rollers from Nigeria. After all the six teams played four matches each in the tournament, Sharkia and Eastern tie at the top with 10 points apiece although Sharkia boast of better aggregate. They have three wins and one draw each.

Make some changes

Kisumu Simba are placed third with nine points from three wins and a loss, Yobe are fourth with four points made of one win, a draw and two defeats. Green Sharks follows with one point while winless Moshi Khalsa from Tanzania tail without any point. Kisumu have no otherwise but to stop the experienced Sharkia. But will the Kenyan champions bring down the continental champions just like the way Sliders stunned women’s defending champions Heartland 2-1 to set up an all-Kenya final against Telkom on Sunday?

A draw won’t be enough for Kisumu Simba if Eastern are to lose to Yobe since Kisumu Simba have a goal difference of six while Eastern 15. Kisumu Simba lost to Eastern 0-2 before they recovered to beat Yobe 31, Green Sharks 4-1 and Moshi 3-0.

“There is no escape and we are going for nothing short of victory,” said Kisumu Simba’s coach Parminder “Kake” Saini who hinted of making some changes in his attacking and midfield lines. “ The changes are secret and we shall unveil them during the match,” Saini said.

“I have taken the boys through the drills and polished all our mistakes especially in penalty corner takes,” said Saini. “I hope the team will live up to the billing and the changes will work well.”

Saini said that Kenyans should realise that his team only trained together few days before the tournament and on murram courts in Kisumu. “ There has been remarkable improvement as the team got used to the astro turf surface,” Saini said.

Kisumu Simba’s kingpin Cliff Odendo said his side is more confident. “ Rest be assured that the team is ready to roll over Sharkia and get to the final,” he said. “ The forward line that was blunt is now sharper and let Kenyans pray for us.”

Sharkia coach Gamal Amine was firm about his ambitions for their unprecedented 18th continental title. “ Victory will be ours Inshallah! We have worked for this and our experience should count,” Amine said. “ However, we are not underestimating any team since either Kisumu Simba or Eastern are no pushovers.’