Mgosi calling time on his glittering career

Dar es Salaam. Long-serving Simba SC forward Mussa Hassan Mgosi has called time on his glittering football career.

Mgosi, who won several domestic titles with the Msimbazi Street heavyweights, is now primed to take up the post of the club’s manager.

Simba SC head of information and communications Haji Manara confirmed the news during his visit to Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) yesterday.

Manara said the 31-year-old, who is still in club’s roster of players for next season, will soon take over the post of manager. It will be after the executive committee endorses him in the next few days.

“After so many years of playing football in topflight sides, Mgosi is on the verge of hanging his boots. He is still our player and has played an integral part in our success, so we respect him as one of our legends,” said the outspoken official.  

“To honour him, we are considering promoting him immediately to the position of manager, but the decision will be made when the club’s executive committee meets, tentatively, next week.”

Asked for comment over the matter, Mgosi declined to go into the details, but looked destined to land the position.

“I don’t want to talk too much on this. I am still a Simba player even though it’s true that I will be retiring. Let’s wait for the new development to unfold,” said the marauding attacker. After routing Kenya’s AFC Leopards 4-0 on Monday, Simba have lined up another friendly match against URA of Uganda.

The match, according to Manara, will be played at 60,000-seater National Stadium on Sunday, dropping a hint that it would serve as a testimonial for the retiring striker.

“We will have a friendly against URA on Sunday. This is to honour our technical bench’s request of more friendlies before the new season starts. I can’t assure you, but it may also be a testimonial for Mgosi,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ugandan giants left Kampala last evening for Dar es Salaam where they will play two international friendly matches.

A squad of 25 players was flagged off in the afternoon and their other match will be against Azam FC.

In an interview with the club portal URA head coach Kisala Kefa expressed his joy ahead of two encounters. “I’m happy for the two international friendly matches, I believe the players will get tested and this will help us as we are heading to the start of 2016-17 Azam Uganda Premier league,” he said.

The contingent will led by Club’s technical director Kyondo Geoffrey and were expected last night in town.

On Burundian striker Laudit Mavugo, whose parent club Vital’O claims they still have a running contract with him, Manara said the registration committee is already working on it.

Simba signed Mavugo on a two-year contract last week and played against AFC Leopards, but the Burundian outfit is threatening to lodge their complaint to the world governing body over transfer irregularity.