South African coach Steve Barker has won his first award as head coach of Tanzania side Simba SC. Barker was unveiled as head coach at the club in December after ending a nearly nine-year stay at Stellenbosch FC.
Despite trailing log leaders and rivals Young Africans by nine points, Simba are on a nine-match unbeaten streak.
Barker has now been named coach of the month for February in the Tanzanian top-flight after an impressive run with the club.
He was nominated alongside Pedro Goncalves of Young Africans and Florent Ibenge of Azam. In the period under consideration, Barker led his team to win two matches and draw one.
STEVE BARKER ANNOUNCED AS COACH OF THE MONTH IN TANZANIA
“Young Africans striker Laurindo Dilson ‘Depu’ has been named the NBC Premier League Player of the Month for February for the 2025/26 season, while Simba’s Steve Barker has been named the league’s Coach of the Month,” the Tanzanian League announced on Monday.
SOUTH AFRICAN MENTOR BEAT FLORENT IBENGE AND PEDRO GONCALVES TO THE AWARD
“Laurindo has been in fine form for the month, scoring two goals in two matches for Young Africans, helping his team remain at the top of the NBC Premier League standings. The striker beat Simba defender Rushine De Reuck and Azam midfielder Idd Selemani ‘Nado’ to the finals in the Monthly Awards process conducted by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) Awards Committee.
“As for Barker, who entered the final with Pedro Goncalves of Young Africans and Florent Ibenge of Azam, he led his team to win two matches and draw one, thus rising from sixth to third place in the NBC Premier League standings.”
Meanwhile, another South African at the club, Rushine De Reuck, has also been making a name for himself in Tanzania. The former Mamelodi Sundowns defender was recently rewarded with a new one-year contract.
Besides captaining the club, De Reuck has been rock solid at the back and has scored three goals. In addition, he has scooped several Man of the Match awards as he continues his resurgence in a foreign country. In contrast, Neo Maema—another South African at the club—has seen limited impact while on loan from Sundowns.
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