Azam FC

As the Kagame Cup championship rolls into the last eight stages, debutants Azam FC have underscored the need to shrug off the underdog tag as they meet six-time winners Simba at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam tomorrow.

Azam, who are making a debut appearance in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association’s (CECAFA) club championship, on Saturday booked their quarterfinal place after drawing with Kenya champs Tusker FC.

Head coach for the ice cream makers Stewart Hall said though his team’s campaign in the competition has not been that impressive, he believes Azam have the quality and quantity to reach the semifinals.

The coach said after following up the way Simba played during the group stage matches, he has drawn a heap of optimism over making a progression into the last four.

“Yes, Simba have beaten us many times but this is another tournament with a different passion. I and my technical staff have watched them playing and from my point of view we will stop them tomorrow,” he said, adding that his side emphasis is on team work.

Simba head coach Milovan Cirkovic, speaking after his team draw with AS Vita, said it would be a difficult game taking into consideration of massive knowledge of the teams’ over each other.

The Serbian coach admitted his team’s weaknesses and promised to fill up the potholes ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

"Each team is fighting to reach the semifinals and win the title. It will be a very difficult game. They know us and we also know them better. We just need to be composed and take the game from them," he concluded.