Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has made his position clear ahead of the CAF Champions League group stage, insisting that his team has no reason to fear any opponent, regardless of their stature.
Barker said the current priority is not to discuss the names of the teams Simba might be drawn against, but to prepare to face any challenge that comes their way in this stage of the competition.
His comments come as the Msimbazi Reds prepare to enter the group-stage battle, hoping to progress further and achieve their objectives this season.
The group-stage draw is expected to take place in Egypt on Wednesday, October 28.
Simba secured their place in this stage after an impressive performance against Equatorial Guinea’s 15 de Agosto. In the second-leg match played last Sunday, the Tanzanian side won 3-0, taking their aggregate victory to 9-1.
Speaking about preparations for the next stage, Barker stressed that there is no room for choosing opponents in a highly competitive tournament such as the CAF Champions League.
“In the CAF Champions League, there are no easy teams. To perform well, you must be ready to be drawn against or face any team,” Barker said.
Barker said qualifying for the group stage was one of the initial objectives set by the club, but the journey is far from over. Attention is now turning to the draw, which will determine Simba’s opponents and the challenges they will face in their group.
“One of our initial targets was to reach the group stage, and we have achieved that convincingly. Now it is time to wait and see which group we will be drawn into,” he said.
However, the coach stressed that Simba should not rush into calculating their chances in the later stages before first fulfilling their responsibilities in the next phase.
The target is to reach the quarter-finals, but Barker believes getting there will require preparation, concentration and the ability to compete in every match.
“We are fighting for a place in the quarter-finals. It is important to battle one step at a time; after that, we can start making further calculations,” Barker said.
