Tanzania giants Simba settle for Brazilian coach Robertinho
Former Tanzania league champions, Simba SC, have hired Brazilian Roberto ‘Robertinho’ Oliviera as head coach.
Robertinho has joined Simba from Uganda where he resigned last week as Vipers SC coach.
Simba unveiled Robertinho on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, where has taken over the reins from caretaker Juma Mgunda.
Robertinho, who has inked a two-year contract with Simba, has come to Tanzania’s NBC Premier League with a decent profile.
He guided Vipers to the Uganda Cup last season.
The coach also secured the team a dance with the continent’s finest in the 2022/23 CAF Champions League last year.
The Brazilian went on to steer Vipers to the Champions League group stages.
Vipers were so good they eliminated five-time champions TP Mazembe 4-2 on post-match penalties from the second round to reach the group stages.
ROBERTINHO MAKES BOLD PROMISES TO SIMBA FAITHFUL
Speaking during his unveiling on Tuesday, Robertinho wasted no time in making bold promises to Simba faithful.
“I have been a player before becoming a coach,” he is quoted telling the media.
“I always believe in good plans. If you have good plans, you can reach the semi-finals until the final. It will be possible while I am here at Simba.”
Robertinho then shared the secrets to his success at Vipers, where beating opposition such as Mazembe was, until his arrival, like building castles in the air.
“When I was at Vipers, when we were going to meet TP Mazembe, many believed it was the end of us, but we had good plans until we managed to get them out,” he added.
CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS WHY THEY OPTED FOR ROBERTINHO
Simba official Murtaza Mangungu is quoted as saying they were compelled to make overtures on the Brazilian because of his sound track-record.
“Robertinho is a coach with a great profile and we have big goals,” Mangungu told the press.
“…that i why we have taken him. He has a lot of experience in East African football, which has also attracted us.”
Robertinho also coached Rayon Sport in Rwanda among other teams in Africa.
His immediate challenge is that of catching up with leaders and holders Yanga who lie four points clear of Simba.
The former Vipers mentor is now Simba’s substantive coach for the first time since September 2022 when the Tanzanian outfit parted ways with Zoran Manoljovic.
Manoljovic’s exit from the club prompted Simba to get on loan Juma whose actual employers are Coastal Union FC.
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