Dar es Salaam. After a barren 2024/25 season in which Simba SC walked away without any major silverware domestically or on the continental stage, the pressure quickly shifted to head Coach Fadlu Davids.
The South African tactician, tasked with reviving the club’s legacy, has entered the new campaign with renewed purpose and bold strategic moves.
At the top of his priority list? Reinforcing the striking department, particularly the central forward role, an area that struggled despite Simba being one of the top creators of chances in the league (60pc of their attacks came through the middle).
Instead of looking far afield, Fadlu cast his eyes closer to home and landed on Jonathan Sowah, a Ghanaian forward who had just returned to his native country for the off-season. Within days, the deal was done.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Sowah joins Simba from Singida Black Stars, having made a thunderous impact in just half a season.
Signed during the January 2025 transfer window, he lit up the Mainland Premier League with 13 goals in 11 matches an astonishing average of 1.18 goals per game.
That sort of clinical efficiency is rare in any league, and it didn’t take long before his name was mentioned as the missing piece in Simba’s attack.
His record speaks of a natural finisher, not just someone who scores when it’s easy, but someone who finds goals when they matter most.
Natural Born Finisher
There are goal scorers, and then there are goal-scoring predators. Sowah belongs in the latter group.
Whether it’s his left foot, right foot, header, or a strike from outside the box he has the complete toolkit.
What sets him apart even more is his ability to create his own chances.
He doesn’t wait for perfect passes or crosses.
He presses defenders, holds the ball well using smart body positioning, and thrives even when under pressure from tight marking.
He’s also known for making explosive runs behind defensive lines, breaking offside traps with his pace, and emerging in the right place at the right time.
It’s that instinctive movement that makes him a nightmare for defenders.
The Discipline Dilemma
But Sowah comes with baggage and not of the tactical kind. His disciplinary record raises valid concerns, and it’s something Coach Fadlu must fix if Simba are to fully benefit from his attacking prowess.
Take last season’s FA Cup Final, for instance. Up against fierce rivals Yanga SC, Sowah crumbled under pressure.
Frustrated by intense marking, he lashed out and ended up getting himself sent off after a second yellow card leaving his team short-handed in a critical fixture.
That sort of emotional fragility could hurt Simba in high-stakes matches, and Fadlu will need to invest time into mentally sharpening his new striker.
A calmer, more mature Sowah could be unstoppable.
Fitting into Fadlu’s System
Fadlu Davids typically employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, where the central striker is the spearhead of every attack.
This setup is tailor-made for someone like Sowah, who will be surrounded by creative outlets such as Charles Ahoua, Joshua Mutale, Elie Mpanzu, and Kibu Denis.
But Sowah also allows Fadlu tactical flexibility. The coach could opt for a 4-4-2 diamond with a striking partner up top, or even a 3-5-2, which gives space for wingbacks like Shomary Kapombe to stretch the play.
The beauty of Sowah is that he’s not confined to a single style he adapts and thrives.
Breathing Room for Ahoua
Last season, Charles Ahoua had to do it all create, distribute, and often, score.
With Sowah’s arrival, Ahoua can shift back to his natural role as a creative playmaker, with less pressure to constantly push into the box.
It not only preserves his energy for the full season, but could also reduce his injury risk.
In essence, Sowah is not just a scorer; he’s the solution to a tactical imbalance that plagued Simba for months.
