Both Gonçalves and Pantev have yet to feature in the CAF Champions’ League group stage as head coaches, which makes this tournament an important milestone in their careers
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania football giants Young Africans (Yanga) and Simba SC are preparing for the CAF Champions League group stage, with their coaches looking to make history in the continental competition.
Yanga are now under Portuguese tactician Pedro Gonçalves, while Simba are led by Bulgarian coach Dimitar Pantev.
Yanga will host Moroccan giants AS FAR on Saturday at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, and Simba will face Angolan side Atlético Petróleos de Luanda on Sunday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm East African time.
Both Gonçalves and Pantev have yet to feature in the CAF Champions’ League group stage as head coaches, which makes this tournament an important milestone in their careers.
Both coaches bring a wealth of experience in African football and are expected to apply their knowledge and tactical expertise to lead their respective clubs.
Dimitar Pantev
Pantev began his managerial career in 2006 and has coached clubs in Bulgaria and across Africa.
In Africa, he has led teams such as Cameroon’s Victoria United, Sierra Leone’s FC Johansen, and two Botswana clubs, Orapa United in 2024 and Gaborone United in 2025, before joining Simba SC.
Despite Orapa United competing three times in CAF competitions, Pantev was not part of their technical bench. Orapa United featured in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2017 and 2019 and qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage in 2025.
He also coached FC Johansen, which participated in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2013, and Victoria United, which has yet to appear in CAF competitions.
Pantev made his CAF competition debut with Gaborone United of Bostwana when they faced Simba. The team lost 1–0 at home in the first leg but managed a 1–1 draw in the return match, which resulted in their elimination.
With Simba, Pantev will now coach in the CAF Champions’ League group stage for the first time, aiming to secure a historic breakthrough for himself and the club.
Pedro Gonçalves
For Pedro Gonçalves, this CAF Champions League campaign also represents a continental debut.
Gonçalves began his managerial career in 1996 and has extensive experience in Portugal, including a long stint at Sporting CP as a scout and academy coach from 2000 to 2015.
He later joined the youth setup of Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto from 2015 to 2018, before being appointed head coach of the U-17 and U-20 national teams in 2018 and 2019.
Gonçalves subsequently served as the head coach of the Angola senior national team for seven years before joining Yanga in October 2025.
During his career, Gonçalves has won several honours, including the COSAFA Cup for the U-17 team in 2018 and the senior national team in 2024 and 2025. He managed the Angola senior team in 63 matches, recording 22 wins, 27 draws, and 14 losses.
The recent coaching appointments have set the stage for both tacticians to make their mark in the CAF Champions’ League group stage.
Their debut in the group stage presents a unique opportunity to build their continental legacy and make a significant impact in Tanzania’s top clubs.
As the matches approach, all eyes will be on Pantev and Gonçalves, who are eager to achieve success at the highest level of African club football.
Their leadership will be crucial in navigating tough opponents and securing historic results, while also demonstrating the growing stature of Tanzanian football on the continental stage.
