Pantev upbeat about Simba Champions League draw

The Reds were drawn over the weekend to face Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the first preliminary round. “It is not going to be simple, every player dreams of playing in these big matches. We will play without fear, in every competition we have our chances, we have that confidence,” said Pantev. “Maybe many people do not believe in us but I can promise from the first match we will go and fight. This match will test our level,” he added.

GU will host the first leg on September 19, before playing the away game on September 27 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. The Reds return to the Champions League after three seasons. Their best run in two previous appearances was reaching the second preliminary round. This time, they face a tough opponent in Simba SC, who have played in the Champions League 12 times. Simba SC’s highlights include reaching the quarterfinals in the 2018–19, 2020–21, 2022–23, and 2023–24 seasons. The Tanzanian club, 22-time league champions, also made it to the group stages six times, including 2003 and 2011.