TP Mazembe of DRCPREMIER League Champions, Simba can overcome reigning African Champions, TP Mazembe, all they need is self-belief and confidence, says former star of the Congolese giants.
Ngawina Ngawina, a Tanzanian who featured for TP Mazembe between 2003 and 2005 playing in midfield position, asserted yesterday in Dar es Salaam that with self-belief and strong mind Simba can knock out his former team.
Ngawina said: "I spent about three years at Mazembe and I’m too familiar with most of the players in their current team. They are strong team but not invincible. They are very difficult to play against at their own ground but it is not some mission impossible.
“Simba can do it if they believe in themselves and importantly play to Mazembe’s weakness. Mazembe have a defensive naivety, but compensate for that with a lot of guts,” added Ngawina, the former national youth team player.
Simba will travel all the way to Lubumbashi on the weekend falling between March 18 and 20 for the first leg match against the African champions for the second year running. The Mainland giants booked their first round berth with a 4-2 win over Elan de Mitsoudje from Comoro after two legs during the preliminary round of the premium club championship.
Ngawina, who also had a stint with Rwandan side Mukura Victory and local teams including Kariakoo Lindi, Kahama United, Vijana Ilala, and Mlandege, said Simba should prepare to confront fervent Mazembe supporters who he affirmed would pack the 35,000-capacity Stade Municipal de Lubumbashi, also known as Stade de la Kenya.
“Whenever Mazembe play at home, the whole of Lubumbashi turns black and white, these are colours used by Mazembe; they have the largest fan base and two traditional musical groups- the 100 per cent and the 99 per cent,” he said.
He added: “Inside the stadium these two groups seat opposite to each other and they always play crucial role in their home games. “But Simba should concentrate on their football and ignore what is going on the standings; football is played on the pitch and if they would succeed to hold them in the opening 20 minutes, I think they will have a great chance because Mazembe will always try to get fast goals.”
Ngawena belives Mazembe stars like Kidiaba Muteba, Mkulukuta Miala, Mabele Biwaka, Mihayo Kazembe, Kimwaki Joel, Kasongo Ngandu, Lofo Bongeli, Kanda Deo and Mvete Luyeye, are in the same class as Simba’s Juma Kaseja Emmanuel Okwi, Mohammed Banka, Nico Nyagawa, Mbwana Samata and others, saying the latter should only believe in themselves.
Mazembe, who lost the FIFA World club championship final to European champions Inter Milan last year, have acquired the giant killer’s status to become the highly feared side in the continent.
Simba that reached the semi-final stage of the continental club championship in 1974 before the new tournament format was installed later, qualified for the last eight lucrative stage in 2003 after ousting Egyptian Zamalek in Cairo’s dramatic penalty shootouts.
Source: Daily News
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