At 5:00 p.m., Simba will take the field at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to face their rivals Yanga in the Community Shield match.
Simba fans have largely stayed quiet online, leaving the job to the players and technical bench. They plan to celebrate only after the full 90 minutes are played.
Losing five consecutive matches to Yanga is not a result that any Simba supporter can be happy with, so today many expect to see smiles return to Msimbazi after this difficult period.
Head coach Fadlu Davids enters this game with the squad he personally selected.
Fadlu oversaw all the recruitment processes, signing players who fit his philosophy, although he faces the setback of missing three key stars due to various reasons.
Forward Jonathan Sowah is serving a red-card suspension from last season’s CRDB Cup final, while Mohamed Bajaber is sidelined with an injury.
Midfielder Alassane Kante will also miss the match after being out for several weeks with an injury sustained during pre-season in Egypt, where he played just six minutes against Gor Mahia as he continues to recover.
Despite these absences, Fadlu still has a strong squad capable of securing victory against Yanga today.
In attack, Steven Mukwala and Selemani Mwalimu can be deployed together in the new system Fadlu plans to use this season.
Jean Charles Ahoua, Elie Mpanzu, and Kibu Denis may be tasked with leading the midfield, while Naby Camara and Yusuph Kagoma are expected to form a central pairing in the midfield.
In defense, Rushine de Reuck, Caraboua Chamou, or Abdulrazak Hamza are expected to lead the central defense, with captain Shomari Kapombe returning to the right side and Antony Mligo, who missed the game against Gor Mahia, expected to start on the left.
The goalkeeping position is clear, with Moussa Camara trusted to start and Yacoub Suleiman ready to step in if needed.
Other players like Ladark Chasambi, Wilson Nangu, Joshua Mutale, Neo Maema, Morice Abraham, and Hussein Semfuko may also feature in the match.
The truth is, Simba players are highly motivated for this derby. Club management, along with investor Mohammed Dewji “Mo,” have spoken with the players at different times, and the message was clear: WIN against Yanga today.
