Simba eyes revival as Nigerian winger on radar
Simba players fight for the ball in the training session in Ismailia, Egypt. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The club target to reclaim their status they lost in the past three seasons to their traditional rivals, Young Africans
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC’s new head coach, Fadlu Davids, is encouraged by the progress his players have made during their training camp in Ismailia, Egypt. However, he emphasizes the importance of instilling a winning mentality within the squad.
Davids has been impressed by the positive response from the players to the team’s training regimen. This intensive camp aims to get Simba in top form before the new season kicks off and for upcoming international competitions.
“We need to create a winning mentality in each player,” Davids said.
“The players must become a unit, like brothers, to achieve their best for the team.”
Simba has bolstered their squad significantly with twelve new signings ahead of the upcoming season. These include: Joshua Mutale from Power Dynamos of Zambia, Steven Dese Mukwala (Asante Kotoko, Ghana), Jean Charles Ahoua (Stella Club Adjame, Ivory Coast), Abdulrazack Mohamed Hamza (SuperSport United, South Africa) and Valentino Mashaka from Geita Gold FC.
Others are Augustine Okejepha (Rivers United FC, Nigeria), Debora Fernandes Mavambo (Mutondo Stars FC, Zambia), Omary Abdallah Omary (Mashujaa FC), Valentino Nouma (FC Saint Eloi Lupopo, DR Congo), Chamou Karaboue (Racing Club d’Abidjan, Ivory Coast), Yusuph Kagoma and Kelvin Kijili who are from Fountain Gate FC.
The club is also in plan to recruit attacking midfielder Elie Mpanzu who is playing for the As Vita Club of DR Congo. However, the deal seems to be ups and down and the player till now is yet to join the team.
Reports says that Mpanzu agreed to join Simba with two years’s contract, but later, the player agent and his team intervened and prevented the winger from signing.
Apart from Mpanzu, Simba seemed to revise their decision to drop Cameroonian attacking midfielder Willie Esomba Onana. Onana is now in Cameroon as other players are in Ismailia continuing with training. Simba are also in plan to recruit Nigerian attacking midfielder Jonathan Alukwu from Sporting Lagos in Nigeria.
The club target to retrieve their status they lost in the past three seasons to their traditional rivals, Young Africans (Yanga).
Before that, Simba dominated the league season after winning Mainland Tanzania Premier League titles for four consecutive seasons.
