We were unlucky to miss CAF Champions League semis – John Bocco

Simba Sports Club skipper John Rapheal Bocco has said they were unlucky to bow of the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League at the quarter final stage.

The Tanzanian giants beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-0 in the return leg of the quarter final last Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es salaam, but bowed out on a 4-3 aggregate.

“We were unlucky to miss out making it to the semi final stage. It was unfortunate that we did not score in the first leg,” said Bocco who netted two goals in the win. Bocco who last Friday promised they would win the game netted in each half at the Benjamin Nkapa Stadium.

Bocco made it 1-0 after 24 minutes after picking a cross from Zambian international Clatous Chama. The home side continued to torment the Kaizer Chiefs defenders and creating several scoring opportunities that they failed to put away.

Early in the second half Kaizer Chiefs’ Leonardo Castro almost punished Simba SC when his close range header missed the target by inches.

Bocco made it 2-0 eleven minutes into the second half with a tap-in off a good Luis Miquissone cross. The home side continued to attack in numbers as the Kaizer Chiefs midfielders failed to hold the ball well.

With four minutes to time it was Chama who got his name on the score sheet for Simba SC to make it 3-0 from another Miquissone cross. The home fans went wild and cheered on their team to keep pushing forward.

But Kaizer Chiefs held on and managed defend in numbers till the final whistle to qualify to the semi final stage. It is also the first time the South African side make it to the semi final stage of the CAF Champions League.

Kaizer Chiefs will now face Wydad in the semis, while Tunisia’s Esperance battle reigning champions Al Ahly in the second semi final clash.