Ivorian defender Ismael Toure is on his way to Simba SC for a reunion with his former coach at Betway Premiership side Stellenbosch FC, Steve Barker.
The centre-back left the Cape Winelands outfit in July 2025 to join Emirati side FC Baniyas where things did not work out for him. After making just seven appearances across all competitions, Baniyas sent Toure to train with their reserve side.
It was a decision that did not sit well with the player who was then released from his contract. He last played competitive football in September. Simba have offered Toure a lifeline, with the player expected to arrive in Tanzania on Monday to sign as a free agent.
At Simba, he will link up with Barker who signed him at Stellenbosch from Marumo Gallants in July 2023. That ends a difficult period away from competitive action for the player.
“He will now link up with Barker at Simba. A deal is kind of finalised, almost done,” a source close to the developments told FARPost.
PSL INFLUENCE AT SIMBA
Besides Barker, Toure will meet familiar faces at Simba in the former Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Neo Maema and Rushine de Reuck. These are players he used to play against in the Betway Premiership.
Simba reached the CAF Confederation Cup final last season while under the tutelage of Fadlu Davids who is now at Raja Casablanca. Davids’ Simba departure saw Dimitar Pantev joining the club but he did not last long.
Barker replaced the Bulgarian in December and arrived at a club that already had Bafana Bafana stars Maema and De Reuck, both signed by Davids. Barker’s arrival added more South African flavour at the Tanzanian giants.
Toure’s signing is expected to see more PSL influence from the Ivorian defender who spent three years in South Africa. It was a period which saw his game tremendously improve.
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