Simba SC Head of Communications, Ahmed Ali, has said the club has calmly accepted the change in kick-off time for their Mainland Premier League match against Mbeya City, stressing that the team is ready to play at any time set by the league organizers.
The match, which was originally scheduled for 4:00 p.m., will now be played at 2:00 p.m. on June 17 at Sokoine Stadium in Mbeya following a decision by the Tanzania Premier League Board.
The change has sparked debate among fans and football stakeholders on social media, with many questioning the decision to schedule Simba’s match in the morning while other top clubs such as Yanga and Azam FC continue to play in the evening and at night. However, Simba SC has made it clear it has no concerns about the revised schedule.
Speaking on the matter, Ahmed said the club has accepted the league authorities’ decision and will proceed with preparations without complaint.
"We have received the change of our match against Mbeya City to 2:00 p.m. in good faith," Ahmed said.
He added that Simba respects the rules and decisions of the league board and therefore sees no reason to object to the revised schedule.
"We understand that the change follows league regulations and we respect those rules. We have no concerns or objections because it is part of the league procedures," he explained.
This will be Simba’s first match scheduled for 2:00 p.m. this season, although it is not the first time they have played at such an early time in the history of the Tanzanian Premier League.
Simba resumed training yesterday to prepare for their final stretch of matches this season. Before traveling to Mbeya on June 14, they will face Pamba Jiji at the KMC Complex.
