15 de Agosto’s decision to prevent fans from attending the first-leg CAF Champions League qualifying match against Simba SC suggests that the team is determined to secure a victory and qualify for the group stage.
With both matches set to be played at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Simba have the advantage of playing at home. However, 15 de Agosto could also have generated revenue and benefited financially if they had allowed supporters into the first-leg encounter.
This means the club has chosen to forgo potential income, believing that playing without fans could give them a better chance of securing a positive result.
The decision has sent a message to the Msimbazi Reds that their opponents are coming to compete seriously and should not be underestimated.
Simba Communications and Information Manager Ahmed Ally said the club is treating both matches with equal importance, with the aim of securing qualification for the group stage.
Earlier, the Equatorial Guinea side had requested that the match be moved to Congo, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rejected the request because there was insufficient time to approve such a change.
