Tanzanian giants, Simba SC, are set to announce a new head coach after their efforts to bring in a former Mamelodi Sundowns coach to replace Fadlu Davids fell through.
Wekundu Wa Msimbazi have secured the services of Bulgarian mentor Dimitar Nikolaev Pantev, ending their search for a successor to Davids, who recently left the club.
Pantev steps into the role following the unsuccessful attempt to secure former Sundowns coach Miguel Gamondi. Davids, who departed Simba last month, has taken over at Moroccan side Raja Club Athletic, creating a significant vacancy at the former Tanzanian champions.
Initially, Simba aimed to leverage Gamondi’s experience to help narrow the gap with their fierce rivals, Young Africans. Although Gamondi was interested in the move, his current club, Singida Black Stars, refused to release him, citing their commitment to competing at the highest level. This refusal prompted Simba to seek alternative options.
PANTEV TAKES THE HELM AT SIMBA SC
Simba SC promptly secured the services of Pantev, with an official announcement regarding his appointment expected soon. The 49-year-old Pantev joins Simba after a successful tenure at Gaborone United in Botswana, where he led the club to the Botswana Premier League title last season. He was at the helm when Gaborone United faced Simba in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Simba hopes that Pantev’s proven success in Botswana will translate into immediate results as they intensify their efforts to challenge Yanga for domestic dominance. Timu ya Wananchi, as Yanga are affectionately known, have won four successive league titles.
Recently, Simba’s board chairman Crescentius Magori indicated that Pantev was a top candidate on their shortlist.
“He is a good coach and his team, Gaborone United, despite being eliminated in the first leg of the CAF Champions League, showed us a very good game,” Magori was quoted in the media. “We are in talks with him, but he is not the only one. There are other names on the table as well.”
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