Simba Queens head coach Charles Lukula feels his side can progress to the CAF Women’s Champions League final in their semifinal tie against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The East African champions on Wednesday will take on South African side – who are tipped to retain the trophy, having reached the last four ruthlessly, winning all their three group stage matches, in the semifinal at Stade Moulay Hassan.
And the title-dreaming Ugandan tactician, while anticipating a tough battle with the Cup holders, is confident his side can use everything in their playbook to tilt things in their direction.
“When you want to become a champion, you must face everyone, who comes on your way, for them to become a champion they started to like us (Simba), so we can also become champions,” Lukula said during the pre-match press conference.
“Don’t forget we are Simba, Simba didn’t only come for competition to participate, we respect them as defending champions, been scoring, but we have been treating every game the way it comes.
“Don’t get surprised it becomes a tough game for them because we also came to win and we have what it takes, I trust my players, I trust my team and trust every member of my team, I promise people are going to watch a good game.”
When asked about being considered underdogs to Sundowns, the 45-year-old is urging his team to embrace the roll of underdog.
“After making it to this round [semi-final], because like I say at first, everyone was taking us as underdogs, because we are a maybe a small team from CECAFA.
“But I was happy we made it, but it is all about our slogan if you remember we must stick together,” he added.
“I say if you want to become a champion you need to face each team, not worrying whether this is big or small, but you must face them, that is why by the end of the day, you have a reason to celebrate.”
The Tanzanian champions bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to AS FAR to thrash Determine Girls and Green Buffaloes 2-0 respectively and Lukula finds the turnaround as no coincidence.
“I would not say I was surprised, because in our first game if you’d watch again, we created more chances, but we never scored one, but I knew if we put things right and concentrate on the finishing side we will be awesome,” he said.
“But I was happy we made it, but it is all about our slogan if you remember we must stick together,” he added.
“I say if you want to become a champion you need to face each team, not worrying whether this is big or small, but you must face them, that is why by the end of the day, you have a reason to celebrate.”
The Tanzanian champions bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to AS FAR to thrash Determine Girls and Green Buffaloes 2-0 respectively and Lukula finds the turnaround as no coincidence.
“I would not say I was surprised, because in our first game if you’d watch again, we created more chances, but we never scored one, but I knew if we put things right and concentrate on the finishing side we will be awesome,” he said.
“I insisted that day that if we get it right, we will go to the next level, you may play a game where you don’t get any chance, which means you can’t score. In the first game, we had a lot of chances and I was confident that we are going to bounce back.”
No East African team has ever advanced to the semi-final of the Champions League and having achieved this historic feat already, defender Wema Richard Maile is setting a new target.
“We respect Mamelodi Sundowns and see them as a good team, their players are good and we are also a good team as well as our players. We believe we are going to do well,” said Maile.
“We were very happy to reach the semifinal, the target when we came here was to reach the semi-finals, and now we’ve accomplished that. The next target is the finals, so we are on it.”
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)