TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup: Mission yet to be completed for determined Davids ahead of final
Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids cut a grounded yet proud figure after guiding the Tanzanian giants into the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup following a tense semi-final second leg in Durban against Stellenbosch FC.
Having carried a slim 1-0 lead from the first leg in Dar es Salaam, Simba held their nerve at the Moses Mabhida Stadium to secure a goalless draw in the return leg – enough to punch their ticket to the showpiece final, where Moroccan heavyweights and former champions, RS Berkane await.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the East Africans, who were under pressure from the first whistle as Stellenbosch pressed high and fast in search of an early goal. The match may have lacked in scoring, but it overflowed with tension, particularly for Davids, who revealed he may have picked up an unusual injury in the process.
“I think I fractured my toe at half time,” the former Orlando Pirates coach said with a wry smile. “Because it was not the football we wanted to play. We were buckling to their high press. Normally we can play through it, but this is an occasion where players have got to learn and you've got to be brave.”
In a brutally honest post-match assessment, Davids acknowledged that his players didn’t impose themselves on the game as they had hoped in the first half but was quick to highlight the team’s ability to adapt and manage the game when it mattered most.
“You’ve got to sometimes get on the ball and not be afraid to make mistakes, and we will learn from it,” he added. “It was then very important to manage the game in the second half. We showed that we are a team that can dominate ball possession, dominate shots, dominate the XG – and now we showed that we are a team that can fight!”
While many of his players and fans will be eager to bask in the moment, Davids was quick to downplay the celebrations. For the South African tactician, the mission remains unfinished.
“We don't celebrate too much,” he stated. “We celebrate up until a point. Because if you celebrate too much, then you're happy with being in the final. I will be happy once we lift the trophy.”
Simba now turn their attention to a mouth-watering clash against RS Berkane – the runaway leaders of Morocco’s Botola Pro 1 and no strangers to success in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The final promises to be a heavyweight showdown between two sides with very different styles but equally high ambitions.