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The Brazilian tactician lauded his players for sticking to the game plan in the CAF Champions League quarter-final tie
Simba SC coach Roberto Oliveira alias Robertihno has explained how his team managed to contain Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca in their stunning CAF Champions League win on Saturday.
Simba pulled off a massive result when they beat the African champions 1-0 in the quarter-final first leg in Dar es Salaam to gain an advantage heading into the second leg in Morocco next week.
DR Congo international Jean Baleke scored the lone goal in the first half with a close-range finish at the back post after a well-weighted cross by Denis Kibu Prosper and the Tanzanian giants put up a resolute defensive display to claim the shock victory.
Robertihno feels the win was well-deserved as his side stuck to his principles and executed the game plan well by denying the highly-fancied side possession in key areas.
“We played against the (African) champions and they are second in the Morocco league. It is not easy,” said Robertihno.
“Congratulations to my players because we used two strategies. We played modern football which is you stay with the ball, don’t lose the ball. We play offensive every time but with intelligence.”
“I have (Clatous) Chama, Saido (Ntibazonkiza), Mzamiru Yassin, Kibu, (Shomari) Kapombe, Shabalala (Mohamed Husseini Mohamed). They (all) repeated the same strategy.”
Harambee Stars defender Joash Onyango played 90 minutes again as Wekundu wa Msimbazi kept a third straight clean sheet and will be required to stand tall in Morocco on Friday since they need to avoid defeat to clinch a semi-final ticket.
Victory completed a good week for Simba who had claimed the Kariakoo derby bragging rights last Sunday with a 2-0 win over bitter rivals Yanga to revive their Tanzania Premier League title hopes.
Getting a result in Morocco will test Simba’s character to the core as they have not fared well when playing away to North African sides and lost 3-1 away to Wydad’s bitter rivals Raja in the group stages of the competition on April 1.
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