SIMBA SC head coach Fadlu Davids was full of praise for his players after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Singida Black Stars in a rescheduled Mainland Premier League match at the KMC Complex on Wednesday.

The win sees Simba close the gap at the top of the table, setting up a dramatic climax to the season. “I’d like to commend the players,” Davids (pictured) said. “The way we started the game was unbelievable high intensity, creating chance after chance, not giving Singida a moment to breathe. That’s the mentality we needed.”

However, Davids expressed concern about the scheduling of fixtures, noting the quick turnaround from Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup final to Wednesday’s league match. 

“You can’t put a game two days after a cup final. It’s not fair,” he said. “We played a CAF Confederation Cup final on Sunday, and then a Premier League match on Wednesday. Normally, this shouldn’t happen.”

Davids also hinted at off-the-pitch distractions, suggesting there were rumors of financial incentives to their opponents.  “Unconfirmed sources were saying Singida Black Stars would get 200 million for a win. But guess what? We win. You can do whatever you want, but we win. Like we say ‘Ubaya, Ubwela’,” he stated confidently.

Simba’s lone goal came in the 41st minute courtesy of in-form striker Steven Mukwala, who calmly finished off a beautiful pass from Jean Charles Ahoua.  The goal was Mukwala’s 12th of the campaign, tying him with Lionel Ateba and leaving him just three goals behind top scorer Jean Ahoua.

Despite facing a resilient Singida side, Simba held firm to claim all three points. The victory lifts them to 72 points, just one behind league leaders and fierce rivals Young Africans (Yanga), who sit on 73 points. 

Both teams now have three games remaining, and the title could be decided in their upcoming head-to-head clash scheduled for June 15. “It’s not always about playing the best football,” Davids noted. “At this stage of the season, it’s about mentality. And today, we showed we have the mentality to compete and fight.”

During the match, Davids was seen giving detailed instructions to midfielder Fabrice Ngoma. After the game, he explained the reasoning behind his tactical approach. “Fabrice ran 11.5 kilometers in the last game - same as Mpanzu and Mukwala. When you play with 10 men, you work even harder. Mukwala had five sprints covering between 258 to 300 meters,” Davids explained.

“So we had to manage the players. I told Fabrice to conserve energy, keep the center strong, and when we have the ball, let’s rest with it. Switching to a three-man defense helped disrupt their pressing structure, and we were able to bring the game down to our tempo. It was all about control.”

The coach added that being able to adjust formations mid-game showed the team’s tactical maturity and adaptability, crediting the players for their composure and execution under pressure.

“The players did a fantastic job in switching formations - first in the first half, then again in the second half. It was about three points, about character. And now, we prepare for the Federation Cup.”

Following the win, Simba have little time to rest. The squad has already traveled to Babati, Manyara, where they will face Singida Black Stars again - this time in the semi-final of the Federation Cup.

The upcoming knockout clash is a golden opportunity for Simba to push for silverware after narrowly missing out on the CAF Confederation Cup.  The club has now set its sights on finishing the season with a domestic double: the Premier League title and the Federation Cup.

 If Simba overcome Singida Black Stars in the semi-final, they will meet eternal rivals Young Africans in the final, a mouthwatering fixture that could offer Simba a chance for revenge after losing the last four encounters between the two giants.

With the league title and a domestic cup still within reach, Simba are determined to end the season on a high.  “The goal is clear,” a club official said. “We want to finish the season strongly, with two trophies. We missed out on one, but we still have two within reach.”

As the season nears its end, all eyes will be on the titanic showdown between Simba and Young Africans on June 15 - a match that could ultimately determine who will be crowned the Premier League champions of 2024/25. With Simba trailing by just one point and both sides level on games played, the stage is perfectly set for a grand finale in Tanzanian football.