Dar es Salaam. For Simba SC, the last four seasons have been nothing short of frustrating.
From the 2021/22 campaign through to the present 2024/25 season, five different coaches have taken charge of the club, each tasked with restoring lost pride, yet all falling short.
In the meantime, archrivals Yanga have established a period of dominance rarely seen in Tanzanian football, collecting league titles “back to back” and building a technical structure that has kept them on top.
Now, following the sudden exit of South African coach Fadlu Davids, Simba find themselves at a crossroads once more.
Their board must not only appoint a capable successor but also ensure that the club’s next chapter finally brings consistency, trophies, and continental recognition.
The pressure is immense, the expectations sky-high, and the challenge before the incoming coach is daunting.
The Promise and Departure of Fadlu Davids
When Davids arrived, he was given an unusually wide degree of freedom. He shaped recruitment policies, signed the players he wanted, and introduced tactical systems designed to modernize Simba’s approach.
The previous season may not have yielded a league title, but it provided optimism: Simba reached the CAF Confederation Cup final, something they had not achieved in 31 years.
That journey, however, ended in heartbreak. For all their effort, Simba could not crown their continental run with a trophy, and at home, Yanga continued to tighten their grip on the domestic league.
Davids, who had been in charge for 444 days, decided to step down after the opening fixtures of the new season a 1-0 CAF Champions League preliminary win against Gaborone United and a painful 1-0 loss to Yanga in the league opener.
His departure was abrupt, but it left Simba with both foundations and questions. He demonstrated what was possible, but he also highlighted the scale of the challenge ahead.
The Coaching Carousel
Davids’ exit adds to a growing list of coaches who have come and gone in rapid succession. Before him, Simba had turned to:
Pablo Franco, who lasted 204 days.
Zoran Manojlović, who survived just 67 days.
Robertinho who spent 310 days.
Abdelhak Benchikha, whose reign ended after 149 days.
Each arrived with ambition and belief, yet each left with the same shortcomings—failure to dethrone Yanga and reclaim domestic supremacy.
The instability itself has become part of the problem, preventing any long-term vision from taking root.
A Club Living in the Shadows
Today, Simba are no longer the powerhouse they once were.
The club still commands immense support, boasts passionate fans, and retains financial strength, but their status is weakened by Yanga’s dominance.
For the new coach, the pressure is not merely to win matches; it is to stop Yanga. Every derby loss deepens the perception that Simba are falling behind.
These matches are more than league fixtures, they are cultural touchpoints that define entire seasons.
Fail in the derby, and pressure mounts. Succeed, and the door to redemption begins to open.
The Burden of Expectations
The incoming coach will face several intertwined challenges: Winning the Derby: Nothing will matter more than defeating Yanga in direct encounters. These games are benchmarks for credibility;
Strategic Recruitment: Simba have long been guilty of scattergun recruitment, signing numerous players without a coherent plan. The next coach must demand smarter, targeted signings that strengthen weak areas rather than inflate numbers;
Fixing the Defense: In the past three seasons, Simba’s defense has been their Achilles heel. Costly mistakes in high-profile games have undermined progress. Building a disciplined, reliable backline must be a priority;
Balancing Local and Foreign Talent: To compete with North and West African clubs, Simba cannot rely solely on foreign imports. Their Tanzanian players must be developed and trusted to match the intensity of continental competition;
Consistency in Management: Past coaches have often clashed with Simba’s leadership over recruitment and strategy. For success to come, the next coach must not only implement his ideas but also be fully integrated into the club’s decision-making structure.
The African Dream
Simba’s fans do not only dream of local glory. They want to see their club conquer Africa.
The Confederation Cup final was a taste, but the bigger dream is the CAF Champions League crown. This, however, is the toughest challenge of all.
Northern African giants like Al Ahly, Wydad, and Esperance, alongside West African powerhouses, dominate the Champions League with squads built for physical, fast-paced, tactically disciplined football.
For Simba to compete, they must adopt the same intensity. That requires time, patience, and a clear technical project—elements often missing in their recent coaching cycles.
Fadlu’s Legacy and Warning
Reflecting on his time at Simba, Davids admitted both pride and frustration:
“Simba is a big club with a rich history and enormous expectations. I witnessed the passion of the fans and their desire to see the club’s pride restored. We achieved something remarkable by reaching the Confederation Cup final, but there was still so much to be done.
“The greatest challenge for the next coach is how to beat Yanga. It is not easy—they are strong, well-organized, and consistent. But I believe Simba have the tools: talent, fans, and resources. With the right support from the leadership, the next coach can bring real change.”
His words ring as both encouragement and caution.
Simba have the ingredients for success, but without alignment between coach and management, the same cycle of disappointment may continue.
What Lies Ahead
The immediate future will be managed by interim coach Hemed Suleiman “Morocco” and his assistant Seleman Matola.
Their task is to steady the ship, but they are unlikely to be long-term solutions. The real challenge will fall to the coach chosen to take the reins permanently.
He will inherit a team with talent but also fragility, a fan base that is demanding but supportive, and a rival in Yanga that has raised the bar for Tanzanian football.
His job will not be simply about tactics or transfers, it will be about restoring belief, re-establishing dominance, and delivering on dreams both at home and in Africa.
For Simba, the wait for a true savior continues. For the new coach, the assignment is clear but monumental: reclaim Simba’s lost crown, defeat Yanga, and chase Africa’s greatest prize.
The journey ahead is not just difficult it is defining.
