DESPITE persistent injury struggles, Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has firmly dismissed rumours surrounding the future of Bajaber Mohammed, confirming that the Harambee Stars forward remains central to his tactical plans.

The Kenyan international (pictured) has endured a challenging spell with the Msimbazi Street giants, largely due to recurring injuries that have disrupted his momentum and consistency.

Bajaber showed flashes of his quality during his January return in the Mapinduzi Cup, where he found the back of the net. However, his progress was once again halted by another setback that sidelined him for several weeks.

Barker’s public backing represents a strong vote of confidence in the attacker’s recovery, underlining that once fully fit, Bajaber remains a vital asset in Simba’s domestic and continental ambitions.

Recent reports had suggested that Simba were considering loaning the forward back to the Kenyan Premier League. Clubs such as Kenya Police FC and Nairobi United were reportedly interested in securing his services for the remainder of the season. However, the proposed move did not materialise before the transfer window closed.

As it stands, Bajaber remains part of Simba’s squad and is now focused on overcoming his injury setbacks as he aims to relaunch his career in the Premier League side.

Speaking about the player’s situation, Barker - who took charge of Simba in January - praised Bajaber’s technical ability and reaffirmed his importance to the team’s future plans.

“Mohammed is a high-quality player, and as I’ve always said, good players will always have a place in our plans. He has the technical ability to change a game, and we are not ready to let go of that kind of talent just because of a difficult patch with injuries,” Barker said.

The South African tactician also provided an encouraging fitness update, confirming that the attacker has resumed full training and could soon return to competitive action, particularly following Simba’s exit from the CAF Champions League group stage.

“He is fine now. He has been back in full training for the past two to three weeks after his most recent setback. It’s been a frustrating time for him, but he’s showing great character on the training pitch. We are managing him carefully to ensure that when he returns to the matchday squad, he stays there,” he added.

Addressing the transfer speculation, Barker reiterated the club’s commitment to the player.

“There was a lot of talk about a loan move back to Kenya, but our priority was always to see him succeed here at Simba. We believe in his potential to relaunch his career in the Premier League, and we want him to do that in a Simba jersey, not elsewhere.”

Bajaber joined Simba last August after an impressive half-season with Kenya Police FC. During his time with the “Law Enforcers,” he played a key role in helping the club secure their historic maiden league title - performances that also earned him a long-awaited call-up to the Kenyan national team, Harambee Stars.