Davids: Coastal draw a wake-up call

DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA’s Head Coach, Fadlu Davids, described their dramatic 2-2 draw with Coastal Union as a wake-up call for his squad.

The gripping match that was staged at KMC Stadium on Friday highlighted the unpredictable nature of football and served as a reminder that no lead is ever safe.

In that match Simba dominated the first half, with goals from Mohamed Hussein and Leonel Ateba putting them ahead.

However, the second half saw a remarkable turnaround as Coastal Union seized control, equalising with strikes from Abdallah Hassan and Hernest Malonga. The pendulum swung wildly, showcasing both teams’ persistence.

Reflecting on the match, Davids expressed the need for improvement, stating: “This match was meant to be finished in the first half with a third goal, but we need to change my players’ mindsets for future competitions.”

He emphasised that while mistakes happen, there’s a clear path forward.

“No one is to blame for the two goals we conceded, although our goalkeeper may have strayed from his area. We will work on correcting these errors,” he added.

With an eye on their next fixture, which pits them against arch-rivals Young Africans after the international break, Davids confirmed, “This match is already done; our full focus is on preparing for Yanga.”

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On the other side, Coastal Union’s Coach, Joseph Lazaro, praised Simba’s quality and the respect his team held for them.

“Simba is a great team and we did not want to leave ourselves exposed. We defended when necessary and attacked when we could,” he said.

Lazaro also outlined his ambitions for the season, expressing a desire to improve their standings.

“We want to prove people wrong and have that mentality to do better this season,” he asserted.

With this draw, Simba climb to second place in the standings with 13 points, while Coastal Union remain in 13th with just five.