Jwaneng Galaxy's shock defeat left Tanzania's Simba 'vibrating'

Osoro Nyawangah, MWANZA Tanzania

The Tanzania football champions, Simba Sports Club elimination from the Caf Champions League after suffering a 3-1 defeat in the hands of Jwaneng Galaxy in a return leg battle at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, left the Kings vibrating.

Didier Gomes da Rosa

The shock defeat that the country’s ‘four-times’ consecutive champions suffered at home to exit the competition in which they reached quarter-finals last season; did not leave it stable following witch-hunt that left its Head Coach and other technical bench members terminated with immediate effect.

The Head Coach, Didier Gomes da Rosa (52), has resigned today Tuesday October 26, paving way for Assistant Coach, Thierry Hitimana to take over the position as Acting Head Coach.

The Frenchman joined the Club on the 24th of January, 2021 helping the club to clinch the 2020/21 championship, was recently named the Best Coach by the Tanzania Football Federation.

The veteran coach was appointed to fill the space that was left by Sven Vandenbroeck, who resigned a day after leading the club to the group stage of the Caf Champions League.

According to press release circulated today by the club through its social media, the two parties reached mutual agreement on terms of their separation after in-depth discussion.

“After in-depth discussion, both parties have mutually agreed on the terms of the separations.” Said the statement adding that the club has also made minor changes to the technical bench by amicably separating with the goalkeeping coach, Milton Nienev and the fitness coach, Adel Zrane.

Simba headed into the match with the advantage since they had won the first leg 2-0 in Botswana, but they could not make it count as they threw away a first-half lead for a 3-3 final score line to bow out on the away goal rule.

It was Simba who scored first when Larry Bwalya drilled home from close range in the 41st minute and they continued to search for more goals but Jwaneng Galaxy remained tight at the back to keep it at 1-0 at half-time.

However, in the second half, the game turned in favour of the visitors and they drew level on the night in the 46th minute when Wendel Rudath evaded Simba defenders to beat goalkeeper Aishi Manula with a low effort.

In the 60th minute, Rudath completed his double with a fine finish from a well-delivered corner before Gape Mohutsiwa put the nail into Simba’s coffin with the third goal in the 86th minute.

Last season, Simba reached the quarter-finals of the competition but they were eliminated by Kaizer Chiefs of South Africa on a 4-3 aggregate win.

Chiefs won the first-round meeting 4-0 at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg but a spirited fight by Simba to overturn the result at Mkapa Stadium could not bore the fruits as they only managed to win 3-0.