Tanzanian Mainland League champions Simba SC have organised a three-club competition in what could only be interpreted as a ‘spying tactic’ on their CAF Champions League Group A opponents.
Former African champions TP Mazembe and Sudanese side Al-Hilal will grace the newly launched Simba Super Cup set to run from January 27 to 31 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
At face value, this looks like just another tournament to prepare the Tanzanian giants for their semifinals target at the continental stage.
But a closer look of the carefully selected opponents reveals a ‘well choreographed scheme’ with their their CAF Champions League opponents in mind.
Simba is in the same CAF Champions League Group with reigning African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, Congolese side AS Vita and Sudanese outfit Al-Merreikh.
Curiously, their opponets at the Super Cup are TP Mazembe and Al-Hilal.
Mazembe plays in the same league as their Congolese rivals, AS Vita while Al-Hilal are the domestic rivals of Al-Merreikh of Sudan.
By playing Al-Hilal on January 27, then TP Mazembe two days later, Simba will definitely have a feel for the level of competitiveness of the two leagues, something they intend to use to their advantage at the continental stage, when they face Al-Merreik and As Vita.
Sources from Tanzania also says that Simba will use the event to unveil a new coach following the shock exit of Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck two weeks ago.
Former England tactician Sven-Goran Eriksson and Florent Ibange who is currently with DR Congo at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, have been linked with the Simba job.
- Advertisement -
