SIMBA SC will look to put off-field distractions behind them when they kick off their 2025/26 Mainland Premier League campaign against Fountain Gate FC at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium this evening, with kick-off set for 7PM.

This will be Simba’s first outing since the sudden departure of head coach Fadlu Davids, who parted ways with the club on Monday. In the interim, assistant coach Selemani Matola (pictured) has been tasked with leading the team from the touchline, as the Wekundu wa Msimbazi aim to maintain focus on the pitch and start the season on a positive note.

 Simba head into the clash buoyed by a morale-boosting 1-0 away victory over Botswana’s Gaborone United in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg on Saturday. The squad returned to Dar es Salaam on Sunday and immediately shifted their attention to domestic duty.

 Matola confirmed that his entire squad is in camp and ready for action, with the exception of Kenyan midfielder Mohamed Bajaber, who remains sidelined through injury. Simba’s attacking line will be under the spotlight, with last season’s top scorer Jean Charles Ahou expected to spearhead the attack. He will be supported by Ghanaian striker Jonathan Sowah, Ugandan forward Stephen Mukwala and the versatile Denis Kibu, offering Matola multiple options in the final third. 

Their sharpness in front of goal could prove decisive as Simba seek an early statement victory in front of their home fans.Their opponents, Fountain Gate, arrive at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium under difficult circumstances. The Manyara-based side suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Mbeya City in their opening league fixture last weekend and continue to face off-field challenges. 

Head coach Dennis Kitambi has been forced to work with a depleted squad after the club was hit with multiple transfer bans, preventing them from registering new players. In their opener, they were only able to name 13 players.

Historically, Simba have enjoyed dominance over Fountain Gate, winning four and drawing two of their six league meetings since the 2022/23 campaign. The home side will be favourites to extend that unbeaten run, but Matola is expected to guard against complacency as he seeks a winning start to life as caretaker coach.