All set for Simba SC’s 80th fete

Dar es Salaam. Today is a special day for the country’s soccer giants Simba SC as they mark 80 years of their existence.

As such, club president Evans Aveva is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the Msimbazi Street club can have an eventful and memorable day.

The Msimbazi Reds, as Simba are popularly known, lock horns with SC Villa of Uganda in a special international friendly match to celebrate their 80th anniversary at the National Stadium this afternoon.

Simba, founded in 1936, will seize the occasion to officially introduce their new signings and unveil their kits for the 2015/16 Vodacom Premier League season which kicks off on September 12.

The former Mainland champions, who finished third last season, have bolstered their team significantly with a view to restoring their dented image.

In an interview with The Citizen on Saturday yesterday, Aveva asked soccer enthusiasts to turn up at the 60,000-seater venue in big numbers to witness the presentation of their new guns.

Aveva said Simba SC are determined to start the new season on a high note, promising fans of victory over SC Villa in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

“On Saturday (today), our club will be turning 80; it is, therefore, a big day for our members and fans. They should not miss the match and other events planned to mark the Simba Day,” he said.

“We have registered players carefully, so I am confident that we will be back to our glorious days. The past three seasons have been painful for us, but I am optimistic we’ll have something to cheer in the 2015/16 season,” he said.

For the past two or so weeks, Simba have been training arduously in Zanzibar under Briton tactician Dylan Kerr who will also be introduced to the club’s members and fans at the ultra-modern venue today. Simba, one of the most successful clubs in Tanzania, will celebrate their 80th anniversary with officials, current and former players, fans and well-wishers, according to Aveva. The club leadership will also introduce some of their new players such as Ugandan striker Hamis Kiiza, who featured for their traditional foes Young Africans two years ago, and Mussa Hassan “Mgosi” who featured with Mtibwa Sugar last season. Simba have invited SC Villa with hope to have a competitive game with the 16-time Uganda topflight league champions ahead of the 2015/16 Mainland Premier League season. SC Villa have been in the country since Wednesday, fine-tuning in the city ahead of the match. Simba returned to Dar es Salaam on Thursday from Zanzibar where they had settled for a pre-season camp. Simon Sserunkuma, a Ugandan who plays for Simba as midfielder, said yesterday that they are ready for SC Villa, his former club, and are not ready to leave any stone unturned.

“I am ready for that game. I am pleased to play against SC Villa while in a foreign country, but this time I am committed and focused on this game,” said Sserunkuma.

Other Ugandans at the club are Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza and Jjuuko Murishid who are all expected to play for the hosts today. SC Villa, after the Simba game, will play against Coastal Union, another Mainland Premier League side coached by Ugandan coach Jackson Mayanja.

Incidentally, the Coastal Union game will be a re-union for goalkeeper Nicolas Ssebwato with his former paymasters SC Villa. Last season, he (Ssebwato) was the first choice goalkeeper at Villa Park.

For his part, Simba head coach Kerr said his players were in good shape, raring to turn tables on the Ugandan outfit today.

“We have so far trained to a satisfactory level, so getting a team of SC Villa caliber is a good test ahead of the new season,” he said. “My players are in the right frame of mind, so I looking forward to coming out with victory,” said the Briton.

His SC Villa counterpart Ibrahim Kirya said they respect Simba as a big club, but will go all out to spoil their day.