[June 21, 2011] Defining Moment for Simba Tweet Dar es Salaam, Jun 21, 2011 (The Citizen/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A slot into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup will be stake when Mainland giants Simba take on DC Motema Pembe at Stade de Martyrs in Kinshasa, DR Congo today. Simba, who left for Kinshasa three days ago, have psychological edge over Motema Pembe, having hit them 1-0 in the first leg match at the National Stadium last weekend. This means they need a draw of any margin to silence the Congo team and book a place in the next stage of the money-spinning championship. "We'll go out with mentality to win the game, I am optimistic the match will produce positive results for us," the Msimbazi Reds' head coach, Moses Basena told The Citizen by phone from Kinshasa yesterday. The Ugandan said his players were in high spirits, looking forward to tuning tables on DC Motema Pembe in what promises to be an intriguing affair. Both Simba and Motema Pembe will not be lacking in motivation as besides a slot into the group stage of the tournament, the winner will also be entitled to a cool Sh225 million cash prize from the Confederation of African Football (CAF). CAF has set aside the prize for each team that will qualify for the group stage in order to, among other things, make the tournament more competitive and exciting. Teams that have so far sailed through are ASEC Mimosas of Cote d'Ivoire, Angola's Interclub de Luanda, JS Kabylie of Algeria, MAS Fes of Morocco, Tunisia's Club Africain and Kaduna United and Sunshine Stars both of Nigeria. Simba got an opportunity to compete in the Confederation Cup play off after failing to make it into the last eight of the Africa Champions League. Basena team lost 3-0 to Morocco's Waydad Casablanca in the one-legged Champions League play off in Cairo, Egypt about two months ago. "Motema Pembe are a good and they will be playing before their home crowd, but we know how to contain them," Basena stressed yesterday. But Simba will be unfortunate not to have on board defender Haruna Shamte, who was given marching orders during the first leg match after two bookable offences. Motema Pembe have been shaping up in Goma since early this week and they have reportedly vowed to grab the three points at stake in today's match. The Congolese team coach, Andy M'Futila, went on record yesterday as saying nothing will stop his team from registering the victory they need to secure a slot into the next stage of the tournament. Motema Pembe need a win of at least two clear goals to see off Simba and sail through. It remains to be seen if they will really upset elegant Simba today. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]