SIMBA are gearing up for a crucial league match against Pamba Jiji, which they see as an important stepping stone towards their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

The Premier League match will be held tomorrow at Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza. 

Simba, currently leading the Mainland Premier League table with 25 points after 10 matches, will face Pamba FC who have recorded one win from 11 games losing five and drawing five games gathering eight points.

Ahmed Ally (pictured), Simba SC's Media and Information Manager, has emphasized the significance of the match, stating that a victory would boost the team's confidence ahead of their continental clash against Bravos Do Maquis.

Despite a tight schedule, Simba are determined to secure a positive result. The team, led by coach Fadlu Davids, was to travel to Mwanza later yesterday and will return to Dar es Salaam immediately after the match tomorrow.

While most of the squad is available, Ugandan striker Steven Mukwala is expected to join the team today morning after completing his international duties. However, Zambian winger Joshua Mutale is sidelined due to an injury sustained during national team training.

Simba also have received a boost with the gradual return of injured players. Midfielder Yusuph Kagoma, who has been sidelined for a month following an injury sustained in the October 19 league match against Young Africans, has resumed light training. 

While he is unlikely to feature against Pamba Jiji FC, Kagoma is optimistic about being fit in time for Simba’s CAF Confederation Cup group stage opener against Angola’s Bravos do Maquis on Wednesday, November 27, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Defender Abdulrazak Hamza and goalkeeper Ayoub Lakred have also recovered and are back in training, further strengthening the squad depth as Simba enters a busy stretch of fixtures.

Simba’s players resumed training on Monday following a brief weekend break. Coach Davids has been implementing specialized gym sessions to enhance the squad’s physical fitness. 

Simba will be aiming to maintain their strong form and secure a victory over Pamba Jiji to boost their morale and fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming continental competition.

Ally highlighted the importance of the match in boosting the team's morale and extending their lead at the top of the league table. Additionally, he emphasized that the match would provide a valuable opportunity to assess the team's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup.

“This league is like a battlefield,” Ally said. “We must win every game. If we fail to do so, we risk giving our competitors the upper hand. Our focus is entirely on securing victory against Pamba Jiji FC.”

He added: "While Pamba Jiji may not be performing well in the league, we cannot underestimate them. This match is crucial for us to maintain our momentum and boost our confidence ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup. We need to approach this game with seriousness and focus on securing a victory.

"We urge all Simba SC fans in Mwanza to support the team and contribute to a positive outcome.

"A win against Pamba Jiji will not only strengthen our position in the league but also provide a much-needed confidence boost before the continental competition. We need the fans to create a strong home advantage and inspire the team to victory." 

After facing Pamba, the team will return to Dar es Salaam to prepare for their match against Bravos on November 27 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. 

Ahead of the continental tier Simba expect to have a full fit squad.

This will be their first group stage match in the Confederation Cup, Group A, alongside CS Constantine from Algeria and CS Sfaxien from Tunisia.