Hajib sneaks to SA for trials
Simba SC forward Ibrahim Hajib (right) and Juma Ndambile, a Friends of Simba member, at the Julius Nyerere International Airport before flying to South Africa where the former will undergo trials at Kaiser Chiefs. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
Hajib’s pursuit of international football is good news for soccer lovers. However, the striker has no blessings of his club and may suffer the wrath when he jets back.
Dar es Salaam. Simba SC marauding striker Ibrahim Hajib flew to South Africa yesterday where he will undergo trials with the country’s champions Kaizer Chiefs FC.
Hajib’s pursuit of international football is good news for soccer lovers. However, the striker has no blessings of his club and may suffer the wrath when he jets back.
Hajib, one the most promising youngsters who took the 2015/16 Premier League by storm, and has so far nine goals under his belt for the Msimbazi Street heavyweights.
The gifted striker left the country aboard Fastjet and will start his nearly two-week trials with the South African powerhouse club soon.
Speaking exclusively to The Citizen yesterday, a Simba SC insider who sought anonymity for he was not the club’s spokesperson disclosed that Hajib will stay in South Africa for 10 days.
“Hajib is already in South Africa. He will be there for at least 10 days where he will have trial at Kaiser Chiefs,” he said.
According to him, Kaizer Chiefs have agreed to accommodate him for the said days thanks to their players’ agents. “He will not start the trials straight away because Kaiser Chiefs have a Premier League match on Wednesday (tomorrow). We hope that the coach (Steve Komphela) will have more time to assess our player from Thursday,” he said.
Kaizer Chiefs, who occupy the fourth place with 45 points from 28 matches, take on the Free State Stars who sit 11th in the South African Premier Division (Absa) log.
Free State Stars is home to another Tanzanian forward, Mrisho Ngassa, who signed for the Bethlehem-based outfit early last year.
“He will start normal training with the youth team before linking up with the senior side after their match against the Free State Stars. We believe that he will be successful. He is a very talented player,” he added.
He explained further that Hajib may try his luck with another club after completing the trials with the Chiefs. However, Simba chairman Evans Aveva said the club was not aware of Hajib’s invitation for trials, which means he would suffer the club’s rage on his arrival.
“We have no official communication over his travel to South Africa. Normally, the club must be duly informed via a letter of invitation, but procedures have been violated and that is bad,” said Aveva.
The chairman said Simba have never stood in the way of any player wishing to seek green pasture abroad, but the manner of Hajib’s departure has prompted him to convene a meeting to discuss it.
