DAR ES SALAAM: FOR a brief moment, Ibrahim Doumbia, Simba’s divisive striker, had the football world believing that his goal drought was nothing more than a bad run. Two goals off the bench in a thumping 6-1 victory over De Agosto in the CAF Champions League tie, and suddenly, the Red Army had found its new favourite topic of celebration.

The doubters were silenced, the believers were vindicated, and Doumbia’s supporters were practically ready to organise a thanksgiving service. Their man had finally found the net twice, and surely, the goal-scoring gods had forgiven him.

Or so they thought. Football, however, has a wicked sense of humour, and Doumbia was about to become its latest punchline.

When the return leg arrived, the striker was handed a starting berth, an opportunity to prove that his brace was the beginning of a revival rather than a brief interruption to his goal-scoring struggles.

Instead, the old Doumbia showed up. The one who makes defenders comfortable, goalkeepers relaxed and supporters wonder whether they are watching a striker or a man still searching for the instructions on how to score.

On Sunday, he fluffed a number of clear-cut chances, leaving the Simba faithful pulling their hair out and the opposition defence breathing a collective sigh of relief. Chances came and went, but the finishing touch was nowhere to be found.

At this rate, Simba’s kit manager might need to issue Doumbia a missingproperty notice for his shooting boots.

The final insult came when he was substituted, leaving his supporters disappointed and probably asking themselves whether those two goals in the first leg had been a genuine breakthrough or simply a footballing prank. Of course, one poor performance does not make a bad striker.

Even the finest forwards have afternoons when the goalposts seem to move just as they are about to shoot. But Doumbia’s problem is that his barren spell has been long enough to turn every missed chance into a public relations crisis. His supporters, meanwhile, deserve a little sympathy.

They celebrated his brace with the enthusiasm of people who had just discovered oil in their backyard. Now they are back to checking the calendar, wondering when the next goal will arrive. With the mini transfer window approaching, Doumbia needs to rediscover his scoring touch quickly.

Simba cannot afford to keep waiting for lightning to strike twice while clear-cut chances go begging. The message is simple: Ibrahim, find those boots! And to his loyal supporters, perhaps hold off on ordering the champagne until your man strings together a few more convincing performances. At Simba, goals are the currency of strikers.

Two against De Agosto bought Doumbia some credit, but Sunday’s misses have put him dangerously close to overdraft. The Banter will be watching. So will the Red Army. And, judging by Sunday’s finishing, so will the goalkeepers.

And so importantly, his employees with the mini-transfer window quickly approaching. Two goals bought him a reprieve. A few more misses, and Simba’s transfer planners might just decide his next brace should be his bags.