Simba to prepare for next season in Egypt

Mohamed Hussein of Simba SC challenged by Mudathir Yahya of Young Africans during the Tanzanian Premier League 2023/24 match between Young Africans and Simba at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 20 April 2024 ©Loveness Bernard/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jun 23, 2024. 11:00

Tanzanian giants Simba SC are set to have a pre-season camp in Egypt next month, as they gear up for the 2024-25 campaign.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi are set to base themselves in Ismailia, with communications manager Ally Ahmed revealing details to The Guardian.

“We hope to set up camp in Egypt, in the city of Ismailia. Our assessment has shown us that the weather is friendly there. Many teams are going to camp in Egypt, especially in the city of Ismailia because it is a lot calmer than Cairo which is too busy,” explained Ahmed.

“We expect to leave Dar es Salaam in the first week of July to go to Ismailia to set up a camp to prepare for the next season,” he added.

Simba will also play friendly matches against local teams, as they camp in Egypt for the second time in recent years.

They played Haras El Hodood, Ismailia, and Abou Hamad in the North African country ahead of the 2022-23 season.

The club is expected to announce their head coach following the departure of Abdelhak Benchikha in early May.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi are looking to raise their level after a disappointing 2023-24 season. Although they won the Community Shield and Union Cup, Simba were unable to provide a challenge to arch rivals Young Africans in the Mainland Premier League – this included a biggest derby defeat in the last 40 years when they collapsed to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Yanga.

They also stumbled in the African Football League and Federation Cup.