Galaxy will take on Simba in a must-win tie at the Azam Complex on Saturday afternoon to proceed to the last eight of the competition.
With just four points, Galaxy require a win over Simba to secure seven points and a quarterfinal spot, given Wydad Athletic Club's loss to the already-qualified ASEC Mimosas. In preparations for the crunch tie, the local side departed Botswana on Tuesday and arrived in Dar Es Salaam in the wee hours of Wednesday after more than 12 hours of travelling. Reports from East Africa claim that the team has tiptoed into Tanzania without informing their hosts of their travel schedule. Galaxy are said to have booked two hotels in an attempt to 'trick' their weekend's opponents.
However, the club's public relations officer, Tankiso Morake, rubbished the reports as he explained that Galaxy have an advance crew tasked with arranging the team's logistics in Tanzania. He said the crew arrived in Tanzania last Sunday and made several lodging enquiries until they settled for one.
"There is no truth in that. We had an advance party that left for Tanzania on Sunday to come and make the logistics for this match. Obviously, we had to look for hotels so that we could be sure where we would lodge. On the issue that we had booked two hotels, there is no truth in that. You can ask for quotations from a hotel without reserving or booking." "I can say that we are lodging at a hotel that we paid for and it is a very good hotel. It is just next to the beach and is good for players, especially after travelling on this long trip. It allows our players to relax and it is in the quieter part of the city. We are not here to come and play any tricks," Morake told MmegiSport on Wednesday from Tanzania. The travelling squad is without two of January's signings, Thero Setsile and Mxolisi Mkhonto, who are cup-tied.
The two have played in the inter-club competitions this season with Setsile turning up for Gaborone United in the CAF Confederations Cup while Mkhonto played for Green Mamba. It will be a rather tough assignment for 'Lesagaripa' as Simba have waited since 2021 to have their day. Galaxy eliminated Simba in the preliminary round of the competition in 2021 with a 3-1 shock win in Tanzania. The team looked down and out after a 2-0 home loss but pulled the rabbit out of the hat to claim a massive win at the famous Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Simba have echoed 'Vita Ya Kasasi' in the match flyer, a Swahili phrase that loosely translates to 'War of Revenge'. "We are aware that Simba is a wounded lion. Simba is still hurt from what happened the last time. We are in for a fierce fight on the field because they would not allow us to beat them again in their background and we also will want to repeat the same feat. We still believe that we can beat them. We have done it before. We have played in the competition and we have learned. What is left now is to make sure that our boys' mental strength is up to par," Morake said. Kickoff is at 7pm local time.
