Dar es Salaam. Ayoub Lakred was once one of the most talked-about goalkeepers in Tanzanian football, following his outstanding performances during the previous season.
His impressive skills between the posts captured the attention of fans not only among Simba SC supporters but also across the wider football community, helping him rise to prominence in both domestic and international competitions.
His remarkable contributions in goal helped elevate Simba’s reputation, not just locally, but on the African stage as well.
The Moroccan international goalkeeper became a key figure for the club, playing a pivotal role in securing victories and ensuring that Simba remained competitive on multiple fronts.
One of the most significant aspects of Ayoub’s presence at Simba was his ability to fill the void left by Aishi Manula, who was sidelined due to an injury.
During that time, Ayoub’s performances in goal were crucial in keeping Simba’s defense intact and ensuring that the team maintained their strong position in both the Tanzanian Premier League and the CAF Champions League.
His impressive performances quickly made him a fan favorite, and his reputation soared as a reliable and capable goalkeeper.
Among his most memorable matches was the CAF Champions League group stage encounter against Wydad Casablanca, one of Africa’s top clubs, in both home and away legs.
In those matches, Ayoub was exceptional, making more than eight critical saves across the two fixtures, which played a major role in Simba securing important points.
His stellar shot-stopping abilities, leadership at the back, and commanding presence between the posts earned him immense respect from the Simba faithful and further solidified his place as one of the top goalkeepers in the competition.
With Simba fans placing great hopes and expectations on Ayoub following his contract extension for another year, his season took an unfortunate turn when he suffered a serious injury during pre-season preparations.
The injury significantly disrupted his rhythm and saw him sidelined at a time when he was expected to be one of the leading figures for the club.
This injury left a gap in the goalkeeper position, and despite his recovery, Ayoub struggled to regain his place in the starting lineup.
In light of this, Simba’s management had no choice but to look for a temporary solution to fill the goalkeeper position.
They moved quickly in the transfer market, bringing in the talented Moussa Camara, who would go on to become a fan favorite in no time.
The young goalkeeper’s solid performances since joining the club at the start of the season have played a crucial role in Simba’s strong position at the top of the Tanzanian Premier League standings.
To date, Camara has kept a clean sheet in 12 out of the 15 Premier League matches he has played, making him the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the competition.
His remarkable consistency in goal has been a key factor in Simba’s rise to the summit of the league with 40 points, a position they are determined to maintain.
Additionally, Camara’s performances have been a major asset to Simba’s continued success in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they have a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.
In contrast, despite his recovery from injury, Ayoub finds himself in a challenging position at Simba.
Reports indicate that the club has decided to exclude him from the squad for both domestic and international competitions, which effectively sees him lose his spot in the first team.
His place has been taken by the impressive Ellie Mpanzu.
At present, Ayoub is continuing to train with the Simba squad, maintaining his fitness as he awaits the conclusion of his contract at the end of the current season.
He remains hopeful that he will be able to find his form again, though his situation has become increasingly uncertain.
The coming months will be crucial for Ayoub, as he seeks to regain his place in the squad or possibly explore other opportunities once his contract expires.
As the season progresses, many Simba fans continue to hold onto the memories of Ayoub’s exceptional performances, but they also understand that football is a game of constant change and competition.
Whether Ayoub will have a future at Simba remains to be seen, but his contributions during the previous season have left an indelible mark on the club’s history.
