Oliveira pleased with Simba gallant qualification for ASFC semi-finals

The Msimbazi Street side went on a rampage as it stamped a 5-1 win over Ihefu SC in the competition’s quarterfinal clash at Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday to propel the former to the last four.

The victory was made much more worthwhile with the winners' forward Jean Baleke laying his hands on this season's NBC Premier League Player of the Month prize for March while Oliveira was voted as the league's Best Coach of the Month.

Simba SC will now face Azam FC in the semis as the winner maneuvers to the finals to be played at Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga as already announced by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF).

Baleke claimed a hat-trick against Ihefu SC preceding contributions from Said Ntibazonkiza and a stoppage-time goal by substitute Pape Sakho who sealed victory for the hosts.

For the visitors, Raphael Daudi netted the consolation goal midway in the second half which could not change anything on the day other than seeing the Mbeya side crash out of the tournament.

“Of course, I am happy to qualify for the semi-finals and we played good football especially in the first half," Oliveira disclosed.

"In the second half, I made several changes to give young players a chance to play,” Oliveira said. 

Katwila reiterated that nobody was to blame for the upset as his outfit made mistakes that were positively utilized by their opponents thereby leading to the defeat.

The tactician said: “We are out of the competition and they have moved on… this is the nature of the contest that one team should progress further."

“We are now turning our focus to the Premier League match versus Simba SC tomorrow (yesterday) at our Southern Highlands Estate Stadium hoping to get maximum points,” Katwila said.

So far, the venue has seen Yanga and Azam FC drop three points after succumbing to losses and Ihefu SC has further been lethal at the club's backyard in the second round of the season.

A win over Ihefu SC is expected to take Simba SC to 60 points from 25 matches, just five points less than the current table toppers, Yanga, who have bagged 65 points after playing 24 matches.

On the other hand, Ihefu SC which is safe from relegation can reach 36 points from 26 games if the squad manages to beat the Msimbazi Street giants.