Jwaneng Galaxy head coach Morena Ramoreboli has made a series of claims regarding Simba SC and their conduct leading up to their Champions League match, urging CAF to conduct a serious investigation into the matter.
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This weekend videos emerged on social media in the aftermath of Jwaneng's heavy 6-0 loss to the Tanzanian side, first of Ramoreboli in an argument with a journalist, then of an apparant scuffle which ensued prior to the match's kickoff.
The South African tactician spoke to Soccer Laduma, to pull the curtain back on what he believes happened away on their Champions League journey in Dar es Salaam.
"We arrived in Tanzania in the early hours of Wednesday morning. On the menu, there was a variety of food, and they didn't make the mistake of not including various fruits. On Thursday, we had those fruits, with different foods that were also available on the menu that day, there were no complaints. I did not eat on Friday, I only drank juice, but when I woke up the following day it was as though I was drunk," alleged Ramoreboli, speaking to Soccer Laduma.
"About five players could not wake up on matchday as the doctor tried everything to assist. Meaning on Friday, we don't know what, but something was done to the food. Not only for the players, but also for the members of the technical staff.
"We don't really know what happened. We tried to speak to the management of the hotel before about suspicion of food poisoning, only to realise that something had already been done to the food. Unfortunately, we don't really know what they did and who did that to the food.
"Saturday, the group which goes early to the stadium to set up, the caretaker, the general manager and the other team manager, their bags were taken out of the car by the police upon arrival. I don't know what happened, but I'm told the guys stole the bags and ran off with them but before the match, the bags were back.
"We got to the stadium and when it was time for us to inspect the pitch, they refused to allow us to go to the pitch. The match commissioner and the security tried to speak to those guys and they continued refusing, but after some time they eventually let us through.
"While the guys were doing their inspection, on the other corner, just before they entered the tunnel, that's when the security started attacking us, even stealing a phone from our goalkeeper coach.
"At some point there was gas coming out of the dressing room. Whatever happened there, if CAF does not do anything, at some point matches will not be played because teams will not have players.
"On Friday, while we were busying trying to do activation, they planted people all over the stadium. At some point, one of our guys went to try and get the ball, but he was attacked."
Asked if an official complaint has ben lodged to CAF, Ramoreboli said: "On Saturday after the game, the general manager sent me a message saying that he has been requested to write a report.
"I'm not sure because we've been travelling, but I think so as the match commissioner saw everything and urged the team write a report."
Despite the ordeal, the Free State native insists that alleged experiences such as these have made him a better coach.
"Champions League has made me a better coach because these guys make life difficult for you. Our team doesn't have a lot of money, we can only afford to take one or two securities and they cannot monitor the entire stadium, so you cannot expose all of your tactics because people could be watching."
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Soccer Laduma spoke to Ramoreboli on Monday and contacted Simba SC for a comment on these allegations, but a response was not received by the time this story was published on Tuesday.
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