Tanzania/Uganda: Simba Appoint Ugandan New Coach

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Majuto Omary

24 April 2011

Dar es Salaam — A fairly-tale marriage between Mainland giants Simba and Patrick Phiri came to an abrupt end yesterday when the club leadership named Ugandan tactician Moses Basema as their new coach.Basema, a former Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) team head coach, is expected to sign a six-month contract with Simba, according to the Msimbazi street club’s chairman, Ismail Aden Rage.

Rage confirmed yesterday that Basema has agreed to take up the job. He quoted the former Uganda national soccer team’s assistant coach as saying he would propel the Msimbazi Reds to higher heights.”He’ll be in probation for six months before signing a long term contract with our club, we believe he what it takes to turn around the team’s fortunes,” Rage said.

Basema, one of the most respected coaches in East Africa, replaces Zambian Patrick Phiri whose contract with Simba ended recently. Rage refused to be drawn into the tug-of-war with Phiri, but reliable sources said the club leadership resolved not to renew his contract after the team’s failure to retain the Vodacom Premier League earlier this month.

Simba lost grip on the title after controversially dropping four vital points in their barren and one-all draws with Kagera Sugar and JKT Ruvu towards the end of the top flight league.Basena is expected to arrive in the country on May 1to sign the deal. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Ugandan coach will take some Ugandan players with him and how the Msimbazi Reds would respond to their new coach.

Phiri, who guided Simba to the Mainland title last year, returned to Zambia soon after their last league match against Songea’s Majimaji two weeks ago. He took charge of Simba in 2003.

Basena was quoted recently as saying from Uganda that he would be very happy to join the 1993 CAF Cup finalists.

“Coaching is the biggest job in club football and I’ll feel honored to be taking on the role of coach of one of the most successful clubs in East Africa,” he said.

When contacted for comment yesterday, he said he was looking forward to meeting the players and the supporters and getting down to work at the Msimbazi club.

AllAfrica – All the Time