Charles Lukula is upbeat about their possibility of winning the CAF Women’s Champions League after Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Green Buffaloes to book a semi-final place in Marrakech.
The Tanzanians went into their final group tie, sitting in third on the table and needing an outright win to leapfrog second Green Buffaloes which they achieved at Grand Stade de Marrakech.
And the Ugandan tactician, who only took over a few weeks ago to the event, refused to take credit for the team’s resurgence.
.”I’ve started thinking about the trophy, I can win the trophy because I have a better team,” Lukula told CAFOnline.com.
“I didn’t come here to make the numbers but to make a mark and I’m feeling confident I’m going to win this trophy although this is my first time, I trust my team 100 per cent to achieve it.”
Following victory over Buffaloes, Simba becomes the first East African club to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And the 45-year-old manager, who joined the Tanzanian champions from Ugandan side She Corporates just a few weeks before the competition attributed the team’s progress on the pitch to the incredible administrative support.
“When it comes to administrative support, Simba are the best. Although I joined them very late for the period of preparation, they provided everything I needed in those three weeks,” Lukula continued.
“That is the reason why you see we are performing well in each and every game and the players adopted my playing style very quickly reason because I was with them in the same group in the CECAFA qualifiers.
“I knew them there which made it easier for me to adapt to know each and every player they are. and that is the reason why I’ve no reason to worry that one day we shall get it right.”
Reflecting on back-to-back victories in the group stages, the Ugandan title-winning coach believes his side ‘got it right’, while opening up on his winning strategy against the Zambians.
“It was a fantastic win because we got it right. I knew it was going to be a tough game and knew they were going to pack the defence so I made my good players stay on the bench,” he narrated.
“After the first half and realizing it is still goalless, I started pouring in some attackers because they were already tired and were chasing the ball in the whole first half.
“My players were fantastic. I told them that let’s not put ourselves under pressure, let’s go and play a good game, and the goal will come and apparently we scored we managed to score two goals.
“I trusted my defence but the problem was in the finishing and we told them to concentrate because if they concentrate, other departments are doing their job. I’m happy, they managed to get it right despite we were playing in a new environment.”
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)