DAR ES SALAAM: Simba SC have parted ways with Head Coach, Abdelhak Benchikha after six months of service and appointed Juma Mgunda to replace him on an interim basis.
According to a press statement issued late on Sunday, Benchikha leaves Simba SC on mutual consent to deal with family issues and would leave with his two assistants Farid Zemit and Kamal Boujnane. The Algerian tactician had told Simba SC leadership that his wife was sick and he needed to be closer and attend to her, the statement said.
“Considering the importance of the matter, the leadership approved the request of Abdelhak Benchikha,” the statement reads in part. Mgunda, the technical director of the club, would lead the technical bench assisted by Selemani Matola until when the board of directors of the club make another decision.
The club’s manager of media and communications, Ahmed Ally, verified this on Sunday by posting a press release on the team’s social media accounts: X handle and Instagram.
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Union League title boost Simba morale It is the second silverware for Simba SC after an exciting 1-0 victory over Azam in Saturday’s Tanzania Union Super League final at New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar.
The result of the Union League final was completed by Babacar Sarr’s header in the 77th minute, where Simba secured their second title following a Community Shield they won at Mkwakwani Stadium last August. Simba’s captain Mohamed Hussein said the victory would boost their team’s confidence heading into the final nine games of the NBC Premier League season.
“It was a close game, and we are happy to have prevailed. We fought skilfully, and our opponent matched our level of skill. We only used the one opportunity we had in the second half to score a goal that gave us the victory. “It is an important win for our side, as it adds strength in the remaining Premier League encounters,” Hussein concluded.
Two Simba SC stars, midfielder Fabrice Ngoma and goalkeeper Ayoub Lakred, shone in the Union Cup championship that ended in Zanzibar Islands. Ngoma emerged as the best player of the tournament while Lakred emerged as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Throughout his 180 minutes of action in both games, Lakred emerged with a clean sheet. Ngoma has been at his best where even in the last game against KVZ he was the best player of the match.
Saido Ntibazonkiza, an attacking midfielder, was named Man of the Match of the Union League final game. Other than winning the title Simba received 50m/- cash prize.
The following morning, shortly after the match they left for Dar es Salaam to continue their NBC Premier League campaign where they will play their next league match at Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa against Namungo.
Following their game with Namungo, they will return to Dar es Salaam to play three matches: on May 3, against Mtibwa Sugar; on May 6, against Tabora United; and on May 9, against Azam.
They are expected to face Kagera Sugar on May 12th and on May 16th, they will fly to Dodoma to face Dodoma Jiji. After their game against Dodoma Jiji, they will travel back to Dar es Salaam to play the final three games: on May 21, they will play Geita Gold; on May 25, they will play Kinondoni Municipal Council; and on May 28, they will play JKT.
