SIMBA SC has confirmed parting ways with its head coach Zoran Maki in the wake of the team’s back-to-back defeats in friendlies with Sudan’s Al Hilal and AS Arta Solar 7 of Djibouti last week.
Maki was tasked with overseeing Simba SC’s revival after last season’s failure to defend the Community Shield, Federation Cup, and the Premier League title.
He was expected to do well in the NBC Premier League, and Federation Cup as well qualifying for the 2022/23 CAF Champions League semi-finals.
He failed in his first silverware quest when Simba SC lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Yanga in this season’s Community Shield match.
In the league, the team has managed to win its first two opening games against Kagera Sugar and Geita Gold FC.
However, Simba SC’s two international friendlies against Sudan’s Al Hilal and Djibouti’s AS Arta Solar 7 are the ones that sealed the fate of the tactician.
On Wednesday last week, Simba SC lost 1-0 to Al Hilal in Sudan and then lost 1-0 in a friendly match against AS Arta Solar 7 in another friendly played in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
In a statement issued by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Gonzalez, Simba SC confirmed parting ways with Maki and his two assistants, fitness coach Sbai Karim, and goalkeeping coach Mohamed Rachid.
The outfit revealed: “ Simba Sports Club has reached an agreement to mutually part ways with our head coach, Zoran Maki. Furthermore, the club has reached a mutual agreement to part ways with our fitness coach Sbai Karim and goalkeeping coach Mohamed Rachid.”
“Simba Sports Club wishes them all the best in their future endeavours, they will always remain part of the Simba family.”
“Ahead of tomorrow’s league match against KMC FC, the team will be under coach Selemani Matola. The recruitment of the new head coach is underway, and shall be announced once the new candidate has been identified.”
Maki, the former Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco) and Angola’s Primeiro de Agosto boss had been appointed Simba SC’s new head coach ahead of the 2022/23 season, the 59-year-old agreed terms on a one-year renewable deal.
He became Simba SC’s sixth head coach in the space of five years. He took over the reins following the dismissal of Pablo Franco Martin, who guided the Simba SC to the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals but failed to defend the league and Federation Cup titles in the 2021/22 campaign.
Maki has vast experience in African football, having handled the likes of Primeiro de Agosto (Angola), Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco), Al Hilal Club (Sudan), CR Belouizdad (Algeria), and Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca.