By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Sudanese giants Al Merreikh have accused Tanzanian giants Simba SC for playing ‘mind games’ when they hosted them for the CAF Champions League competition.
Al Merreikh SC’s criticism comes after eight of their players- Abdelrahman Isaac, Bakhit Khamis, Ahmed Abdelmoneim, Tajeddin Yaqoub, Ramadan Ajab, Tony Edjomariegwe, Bakri Al Madina, and Saif Ad Damazin, were not part of the team that lost 3-0 in the CAF Champions League match against Wekundu wa Msimbazi on
Tuesday at Benjamin Mkapa stadium.
The eight tested positive of corona virus when tested upon arrival in Tanzania.
The Sudanese expressed their displeasure on twitter, “Since our team arrived in Dar es Salaam,
@SimbaSCTanzania decided to play the game outside the bitch with such bad treatment & now selected 8 players from our squad perfectly to ban them due to covid19.
“Guess what? After they banned 8 players due to covid19 @SimbaSCTanzania realised that there is still a starting XI player available (Ahmed Musa), so they said there was a mistake in the result report, guess what??!! They replaced him with another player (A. Abdelmoneim).
“This is what small teams always do.”
The Red Devils coach pointed out that Simba SC won as a result of sabotage.
“Many things happened before the game, we arrived in Tanzania we have problems at the airport, we have problems at the training ground, we have eight players test positive for Covid-19, six of those players are in my starting eleven, very well known to the opposition coach, the other two are very experienced players, who would come on later in the game,” Clark told Goal after the game.
This is not the first time Simba has been accused of employing dirty tactics to get positive results.
In January, when they eliminated reigning champions FC Platinum, they indicated that five of their key players-Petros Mhari, Lawrence Mhlanga, Silas Songani, Ransome Pavari and Eli Ilunga had tested positive two hours before the match.
To add on 3 FC Platinum officials-Tembo Chuma the goalkeeper’s coach, Joseph Musasa team manager and Jeskia Chavhurura were also reported to have tested positive for Corona virus.
Despite the accusations, the Tanzanian representatives in the continental competition moved a step closer to qualify for the quarter finals.
They continue to lead Group A with 10 points, 3 points clear ahead of second placed Al Ahly who have 7 points.
They have maintained an unbeaten run in the whole tournament, now left with only one point to see them through to the last eight.
