Simba head coach Steve Barker has made a strong start to the 2026/27 competitive season after guiding the team to their first league victory, a 2-0 win over Kagera Sugar.
The victory extended Barker’s impressive record since joining Simba in late December 2025, as he remains unbeaten in league matches while in charge of the Wekundu wa Msimbazi.
Overall, Barker has now guided Simba through 27 league matches without defeat, a record that highlights the strong start to his tenure at the club.
However, the pressure is greater this season, with Barker given the major responsibility of leading Simba to the Premier League title after they missed out last season by two points to their main rivals, Yanga.
The Target Is Clear
Simba’s management has made it clear that there is little room for unnecessary dropped points this season. Simba Board Chairman Crescentius Magori said the club’s objective is to collect three points from every match.
“We have set big targets this season; we want the championship. In previous seasons, we identified some of the things that held us back, so this time we want to make sure those small challenges do not happen again.”
Magori said the quality of the club’s new signings and the strength of the technical bench give him great confidence that Simba can perform better in both domestic and international competitions.
“We have made good signings and we have a strong technical bench. Under coach Steve Barker, I believe we will be better this season and perform well, not only in domestic competitions but also in the Champions League,” said Magori.
Barker: A Coach Who Lets Results Do the Talking
Barker is not a coach known for making excessive promises. Instead, his work has largely spoken for itself on the pitch.
Since arriving at Simba, he has demonstrated an ability to build a competitive team and make it difficult to beat. Last season, in addition to his impressive league record, he guided Simba to the CRDB Cup title, further strengthening the confidence supporters have in him.
This season began with disappointment in the Community Shield, after Simba suffered a 1-0 defeat, but that result has not erased the high expectations surrounding Barker. The victory over Kagera Sugar showed that Simba have started their title pursuit on the right track.
With a strengthened squad and a technical bench led by Barker, the Wekundu wa Msimbazi appear to have enough weapons to compete for every trophy available to them.
For Simba, this season will not be judged solely by how the team starts, but by how it finishes.
After going five consecutive seasons without winning the league title, every point will carry significant value. Barker knows that, and the club’s leadership has already made its objective clear.
It is a season in which Wanasimba are hoping for greater success, and if Barker’s unbeaten league record continues, hopes of seeing the title return to Msimbazi will only grow stronger.
