Former Tanzania champions Simba have taken a bold transfer decision as they step up their rebuild to challenge their bitter rivals for titles this season.
Three players who were instrumental to their success in the last two seasons have been shown the exit door ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Meddie Kagere, winner of the golden boot award in two successive seasons, will play his football elsewhere after being released by the club alongside Ugandan holding midfielder Tadeo Lwanga and Chris Mugalu.
The club confirmed the three exits in a statement saying they had “reached an agreement to terminate the contract” with the trio. “After negotiations with the players, we have finally reached an agreement to terminate the contract based on mutual interests.”
FARPost can confirm Kagere will turn out for Singida Big Stars this season while Wawa and Lwanga are still on the search.
The 35-year-old Rwandan, Kagere, made a lasting impact during his four-year stay at the club, topping the goalscoring charts in 2018/2019 with 23 goals and 2019/20 with 22 goals. In the 2020/21 term, he managed to score 14 goals. He lost his mojo last season, only notching seven goals.
Wekundu wa Msimbazi already lost the services of Larry Bwalya, who starts his AmaZulu journey with a clash against TS Galaxy on Sunday.
Bernard Morrison returned to his former club Young Africans at the expiry of his contract, while Pascal Wawa was released.
They brought in Moses Phiri, Victor Akpan, Augustine Okrah, Mohammed Ouattara, Nelson Okwa, and Cezar Manzoki from Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC, also tipped to join them.
The arrival of the international quartet takes the number of foreign nationals at the club to 11. They are also home to non-Tanzanians, including Sadio Kanoute, Pape Sakho, Peter Banda, Clotous Chota Chama, Enock Inonga and Joash Onyango.
The weight of expectation will be upon them next season after the club ended the season empty-handed as their rivals dominated.
Simba’s fans will get a chance to see their new players for the first time on August 8, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on their 14th Simba Day anniversary celebration.
By Ramadhani Juma
