Berko replaces Dhaira at Simba

Dar es Salaam. A fairy-tale marriage between Mainland giants Simba and Ugandan goalkeeper Abel Dhaira came to a bitter end yesterday when the club terminated his contracts.

Dhaira, whose two-year contract with Simba was to expire next year, has been replaced by former Young Africans custodian Yaw Berko, according to the club’s competition committee chairman, Swedi Mkwabi.

Mkwabi said yesterday that their decision to leave out Dhaira was necessitated by the fact that they need a goalkeeper of higher profile.

“Our club faces a difficult task ahead in maintaining a strong challenge for the Vodacom Premier League title and other assignments.

He said their target is to perform impressively in the second round of the league and wrest the title from their traditional foes Yanga when the top flight ends mid next year.

“Dhaira has already returned to Uganda. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to our club,” he added.

Mkwabi said that they have paid the Ugandan goalkeeper his dues and wished him luck in his endeavors elsewhere. “Berko is a good goalkeeper. I am optimistic that he will enable us to achieve the set target,” he said. He said they expect to recruit at least two more players ahead of the decisive round of the league, which starts early next year.

Mkwabi said Berko arrives in the country today. But he did not give more details, saying it would pre-empty their press conference tentatively set for tomorrow.

“Be patient, we expect to make it public tomorrow or Monday,” he insisted when pressed for more details. Mkwabi also hinted that they intend to part ways with three more players before the league resumes.

He named them as Sino Augustino, Frank Sekule and Miraj Madenge.

He said JKT Ruvu, a Coast Region Premier League side, is among the clubs that have shown interest in signing the trio.