SIMBA SC's Media and Communications Manager, Ahmed Ally, has put to rest rumours that the club had requested the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to reschedule the coming season's Community Shield match against age-old rivals, Young Africans SC.

Speaking on Friday after Simba SC returned from a pre-season camp in Egypt, Ally (pictured) confirmed the club is ready for all of its upcoming fixtures, starting with a friendly against Kenyan side Gor Mahia on Simba Day on September 10.

The clash will be followed by the highly anticipated Community Shield game against Young Africans SC six days later. The two Tanzanian rivals will then meet again in a league match on December 13.

Simba SC has just concluded a successful pre-season that included a series of friendly games and training sessions to prepare for the 2025/26 season.
 
The club also announced that the countdown to the Simba Day Festival was set to officially begin in Iringa, with nationwide events planned ahead of the main event on September 10.

"We are fully prepared for the upcoming season, just as we have always been," Ally stated, adding: "The rumours about us requesting to reschedule are false." 

Ally stated: "We are aware of the schedule and have prepared extensively, as evidenced by the strength of our squad and our new signings. We expect good results from them."

He added: "With a strong frontline featuring Jonathan Sowah, Suleiman Mwalimu, and Steven Mukwala, we are confident in our ability to score plenty of goals. Our squad depth means we have no reason to avoid any game."

After honouring the Community Shield match against Young Africans SC on September 16, Simba SC will travel to Botswana for the 2025/26 CAF Champions League first preliminary round's first leg fixture against Gaborone United on September 20. The reverse leg will follow shortly after.

Simba SC is eager to return to the CAF Champions League Group Stage after a successful campaign in the previous season's CAF Confederation Cup.

The season saw the outfit narrowly miss out on the silverware following a 3-1 aggregate loss to Morocco's RS Berkane in the final.
 
Having returned to Dar es Salaam after completing the pre-season training camp, Simba SC is now intensifying preparations for the upcoming season with a series of crucial matches.

The team's recent pre-season tour, which included a number of friendly games against Egyptian clubs, yielded promising results.

The Msimbazi Street club posted three victories, a 2-0 win over Wadi Degla and a similar victory over Carabat FC.

There was moreover a 1-0 win against Al Zurfi, a 1-1 draw in a match versus FC Fassell, and a single loss (4-3) to ENPPI Club.

The positive results offer a glimpse of the Msimbazi Street club's potential with its revamped and dynamic squad, while the loss provided the coaching staff with valuable insights into areas needing improvement.

The club's pre-season will culminate in the annual Simba Day Festival, which will feature a friendly match against Kenyan soccer powerhouse, Gor Mahia.