Former Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions Simba Soccer Club Tuesday confirmed the sacking of head coach Zoran Maki.
In a statement signed by club’s Chief Executive Officer Barbara Gonzalez, Simba and Maki parted ways on mutual consent after reaching an agreement.
“We have reached an agreement to terminate the contract of club’s head coach Zoran Maki on mutual consent,” the statement said.
Midfield and goalkeeper coaches Sbai Karim and Mohammed Rachid were also shown the exit door at Simba SC.
“At the same time, we have also agreed to terminate the contracts of midfield and goalkeeper coaches Sbai Karim and Mohammed Rachid respectively.”
“Simba administration thanks these coaches for their internal contribution and wishes them best of luck in their future endeavours.”
Assistant manager Selemani Matola will temporarily take over the charges from Maki ahead of the side’s meeting with KMC on Wednesday.
The team will be guided by assistant coach Selemani Matola ahead of our tomorrow’s match against KMC. The process of finding new coaches has already started and will come to end very soo.
Two Kenyans players, two clubs – one from South Africa and the other one from Tanzania – will be the cast in a game that has the potential of splitting Kenyan fans down in the middle when Simba take on Kaizer Chiefs in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals in mid May.
Kenya exported Joash Onyango to Simba, where he has made a name for himself. For most Simba fans, Onyango is not your ordinary player.
The Kenyan goes by several nick names. In Nairobi and the towns beyond, he’s referred to as the ‘Berlin Wall’, while for most Simba fans, he is a “half human, half stone” (nusu mtu, nusu jiwe) due to his solid performance at the back.
Down in South Africa is another player that has stolen the hearts of most Kenyan fans, Teddy Akumu, the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder-turned-defender.
So when Chiefs meet Simba, the undisputed kings of East Africna football, the match is expected to attract a following beyond Johannesburg and Dar es Salaam.
With no Kenyan team in the run for the title after Gor Mahia were knocked out of the competition at the group stages, Kenyan fans will definitely take sides considering that both players have turned out for K’Ogalo before.
This is the closest Simba have ever come to winning this title. They know that just two more victories and they might once again play Ah Ahly if the Egyptians giants and defending champions overcome Mamelodi Sundowns and win their semis either between Esperance and Belouizdad.
Simba beat Ahly who won a record ninth Caf Champions League title last season, in the first leg of the group stages and the Lions are oozing with confidence going into the match against the South African.
Another match that will be if interest to fans is the clash between Ahly and Sundowns.
It will not only be interesting to watch a club owned by CAF president Patrice Motsepe crash out of the competition or progress to the next stage, but will also be of great interest to see whether Piston Mosimane will break the hearts of fellow South Africans for the second time.
In 2020, Mosimane took a flight to Egypt and within no time, he had been named as the Ahly’s head coach. That news technically ended his eight year reign as Sundowns tactician.
Even Pitso is equally at a crossroads ahead of the much expected clash of the titans. “I love both,” the reigning Africa Club Champions League winning coach said after the draws.
Ahly beat Sundowns in the 2001 finals, but having grown too close to powers, the South African would definitely do everything to make the Africa football chief proud.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates will play Raja Casablanca as Pyramids on Nigeria’s Enyimba FC in the second tier-CAF Confederation Cup.
The first leg will be staged between of May 14 and 15 with the return leg running between May 21, 22 2021
About 30, 000 Simba fans expected to grace the CAF Champions League match against visiting Egyptian giants Ah Ahly have been advised to observe Covid-19 measures even as the Tanzanian government refuses to acknowledge the gravity of the pandemic.
“We are appealing to our fans to observe all Covid-19 protocols,” Simba appealed to fans in a press conference Friday.
The teams will clash on Tuesday, February 23 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar esl Salaam.
“Let’s observe the social distance by freeing at least one seat whenever you sit in the stadium,” George Abdulraman, the club’s head of marketing said.
It was not yet clear why the club took such a drastic decision, a stark contrast to the long held belief by the government that the country is Covid-free. Sources within the club, though, hinted to SPORTS AFRICA that the record Tanzanian champions acted on a directive by the CAF.
The number of fans is also restricted to just a half the capacity of the 60,000 sitter Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, situated at the heart of Dar es Salaam.
Simba kicked off their group campaign with an important away win in Congo DR, thanks to a 1-0 victory against AS Vita. The Wekundu wa Msimbazi will host record African champions and the cup holders, Ah Ahly on Tuesday next week from pm EAT.
The last time these two sides met, Simba won the “WAR IN DAR” clash by a solitary goal.
“We have a big mission. We want to bring respect to East Africa. We are representing over 150 million people and all of them are looking up to Simba,” the outspoken club spokesperson Hadji Manara said.
But the Tanzanians are going to meet a side currently placed third in the world club ranking. Ahly recently took part in the FIFA Club Cup in Qatar but Manara still believes that they can rely on the home ground advantage and the history, to win the duel dubbed “TOTAL WAR: POINT OF NO RETURN!”
“This is a real war, on the pitch.
“Al Ahly is not a small team and when we say that we can beat them, we know their grittiness but Simba likes such big games. We’ve always beaten them whenever we play at home.
The other match in this group will put AS Vita against Al-Merreikh of Sudan.
Simba bagged the Simba Super Cup despite playing to a goalless draw with TP Mazembe at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Sunday.
Having won the first game against Al-Hilal 4-1, Wekundu wa Msimbazi came into the match targeting a draw to be crowned. The Congolese charges had fallen 2-1 to their counterparts from Sudan on Friday.
Despite the chances created by the two sides, none was able to score and TP Mazembe were eliminated. As a result, the Tanzania Mainland League champions pocketed $6470.
This was the first assignment for new coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa who was recently appointed in place of Sven Vandenbroeck who resigned.
The Tanzanian heavyweights were using the competition to prepare for their CAF Champions League group stage matches. Simba are in Group A alongside the defending champions Al-Ahly of Egypt, Al-Merreikh of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo heavyweights AS Vita.
The East Africans are targeting a semi-final berth in this year’s edition of CAF Champions League.
Simba SC have completed the signing of Nigeria forward Junior Lokosa as they prepare for the CAF Champions League group stage.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi, who are the reigning Tanzania Mainland Champions, have confirmed the arrival of the 27-year-old who comes in as a free agent after he was released by Tunisian giants Esperance.
“Welcome Junior Lokosa,” shouted the headlines on Simba’s social media accounts on Monday.
“An established player from Nigeria who also played for Esperance is ready in Msimbazi after completing his move to the club.
“Our primary target is to reach the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League as well as successfully defend the league title and the FA Cup.
“Welcome to Simba established striker Lokosa Junior. The Simba Super Cup competition is eagerly waiting for you.”
Lokosa is a proven goal scorer having emerged the top scorer in the Nigerian top tier in the 2018 season before he was snapped by the Tunisian outfit.
He joins Perfect Chikwende who has already been confirmed and Doxa Gikanji who is bound to join the team after Chan where he is representing DR Congo.
New Simba SC coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa has fired a warning shot to the players, saying he is very demanding in his bid to ensure his instructions are followed to the letter.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi officially introduced the Frenchman as their new coach on Sunday afternoon. The tactician has further explained why he wants to ensure his players press their opponents during matches.
“My philosophy is the passing game and it will not be a problem because Simba are good at that,” Ra Rosa said during his unveiling.
“Then we must also press because if you want to contest or win, you have to put your opponents under high pressure.
“It is important especially now that we are ready to start the group stage of the CAF Champions League. I believe we have the players who can help us do that. I am very demanding in this, because we must be very solid if we want to go far in continental assignments.”
However, the Tanzania Mainland League title remains his main target.
“We want to push to win the league because it is the most important competition,” Da Rosa added.
“It will help us play in the Champions League, so it is good to prepare for that.”
Simba have officially introduced Didier Gomes Da Rosa as their new coach.
The Frenchman’s first assignment will be to oversee Simba in their opening match against the Sudanese side Al Hilal during the Simba Super Cup on January 27.
The Tanzanian giants have been in the market for a new head of the technical bench after Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck resigned early January.
Several coaches had been linked with the vacant job. SPORTS AFRICA understands that that up to 77 managers had applied for the job to replace Vandenbroeck who has since joined Moroccan side Association Sportive des Forces Armées.
Simba has organized a three-day tournament against TP Mazembe and Al Hilal. The tourney is aimed at preparing the team for the forthcoming CAF Champions League, Group A campaign, and to help the newly signed players in the December window gel with the rest of the squad.
But sources from Tanzania have hinted to SPORTS AFRICA that the event will also be used to present the new coach to the fans.
“The tournament will help the coach know his new players and help the team pick up on an international level.
“Yes, they have a coach already. He is said to have landed today (Saturday) and joining the team from tomorrow and will be introduced earlier or during the opening of the tournament.”
Already Simba have announced the acquisition of Brazilian Milton Nienov who will act as one of the four-member technical bench.
Nienov, who has worked in South Africa with Polokwane City, Lamontville Golden Arrows FC, Super Eagles FC and Free State Stars FC, and Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Sport Club Recifie and Figueirense FC in Brazil, will be the goalkeeper trainer.
Among the coaches tipped to take over are former Rayon Sports and French tactician Didier Gomez da Rosa, who is currently with El Merreikh, and Florent Ibenge of DR Congo.
The official announcement may be made as early as today, Sunday, though the coach will officially take over on January 27.
Tanzanian Mainland League champions Simba SC have organised a three-club competition in what could only be interpreted as a ‘spying tactic’ on their CAF Champions League Group A opponents.
Former African champions TP Mazembe and Sudanese side Al-Hilal will grace the newly launched Simba Super Cup set to run from January 27 to 31 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
At face value, this looks like just another tournament to prepare the Tanzanian giants for their semifinals target at the continental stage.
But a closer look of the carefully selected opponents reveals a ‘well choreographed scheme’ with their their CAF Champions League opponents in mind.
Simba is in the same CAF Champions League Group with reigning African champions, Al Ahly of Egypt, Congolese side AS Vita and Sudanese outfit Al-Merreikh.
Curiously, their opponets at the Super Cup are TP Mazembe and Al-Hilal.
Mazembe plays in the same league as their Congolese rivals, AS Vita while Al-Hilal are the domestic rivals of Al-Merreikh of Sudan.
By playing Al-Hilal on January 27, then TP Mazembe two days later, Simba will definitely have a feel for the level of competitiveness of the two leagues, something they intend to use to their advantage at the continental stage, when they face Al-Merreik and As Vita.
Sources from Tanzania also says that Simba will use the event to unveil a new coach following the shock exit of Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck two weeks ago.
Former England tactician Sven-Goran Eriksson and Florent Ibange who is currently with DR Congo at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, have been linked with the Simba job.
Simba SC midfielder Jonas Mkude has publicly apologised to the club and fans after he was suspended for alleged misconduct.
Reportedly, the Taifa Star man tried to flirt with Wekundu wa Msimbazi CEO Barbara Gonzalez, something that did not go down well with the management.
The club made a decision to suspend him on December 28 until his case is heard and determined.
He has since been left out on the cold by the club as well as the national team that is currently in Cameroon for Chan.
“I would like to plead with Simba to forgive me for my mistakes,” Mkude said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
“We are all born to make mistakes and it does not mean I will repeat the same mistake again.
“I am a Simba player by blood, I love playing for Simba and Simba is part of my life. I am now hoping that my fellow teammates, the technical bench, club leaders, and all the members of the club will forgive me.”
The 21-time league champions have not yet commented on the player’s issue and they are expected to make their stand known by next week.
Simba SC have sealed the services of Zimbabwean striker Perfect Chikwende in preparations for defending the Tanzania Mainland League title.
The forward played against Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, and scored the lone for the Zvishavane-based side’s 4-1 aggregate loss to the Tanzanian heavyweights.
He was a thorn in the Simba defense in both legs, and it is a reason the East African outfit went for his signature.
“Official, Perfect Chikwende is a Mwekundu wa Msimbazi,” the club confirmed on Friday night.
“Chikwende, who is a Zimbabwean, will play in the attacking department and he joins us from Platinum of Zimbabwe. He also played for Bulawayo Chiefs.
“He has joined us as we prepare to hit higher levels set by the club. Welcome to the club Chikwende.”