SIMBA will travel to Egypt for a training camp as part of their preparations for the 2024/25 domestic and international campaigns, the club have confirmed.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi will be based in Ismailia, a city in north-eastern Egypt that is situated on the west bank of the Suez Canal.

“We hope to set up camp in Egypt, in the city of Ismailia. Our assessment has shown us that the weather is friendly there. Many teams are going to camp in Egypt, especially in the city of Ismailia because it is a lot calmer than Cairo which is too busy,” said Simba’s communication manager Ally Ahmed.

According to Ahmed, the club is set to leave for Egypt during the first week of July. 

“We expect to leave Dar es Salaam in the first week of July to go to Ismailia to set up a camp to prepare for the next season,” he added.

As well as working on their fitness ahead of the new season, the team will play several friendlies. 

The trip marks Simba's second pre-season training camp in the North African country.

Simba were in Egypt in preparations for the 2022/23 campaign where they played Haras El Hodood, Ismailia, and Abou Hamad.

With the departure of five players so far, Simba have holes in their squad that need addressing and the club’s communication manager confirmed they will have sorted all their transfer business by the time the team is ready to leave for Egypt.

It should be noted that Simba have parted ways with Shaban Chilunda, Saido Ntibazonkiza, Luis Miquissone, and Kennedy Juma so far. 

They are expected to release more players as part of their squad overhaul.

Promising centre-back Lameck Lawi from Coastal Union is the only confirmed new arrival at the club so far while it is understood at least five more players will be signed to bolster the squad.

Furthermore, the club is expected to announce their head coach assistant following the departure of Abdelhak Benchikha in early May.

Despite winning the Community Shield and Union Cup, Simba were disappointed in the Premier League, African Football League, and Federation Cup campaigns.

They were expected to challenge Young Africans for the league title but ended up battling and being usurped by Azam for the CAF Champions League spot.

They also suffered their biggest derby defeat in the last 40 years when they collapsed in the second half to lose 5-1 to their arch-rivals Young Africans.

After three disappointing seasons domestically, Simba will be hoping to get back to the top of the table in the 2024-25 campaign.

Changes are imminent within the team's technical staff, with interim coach Juma Mgunda expected to return to his position at Simba Queens.

A new era abounds, which will be led by a soon-to-be-announced head coach, and with this in mind, some of the older guards have been moving on.

On Thursday, the club released another batch of players, bringing the total number of departures to five as the squad restructuring continues.

The latest set of players to leave the club includes winger Miquissone and centre-back Juma. 

For Miquiisone it has been a disappointing season after his move from Al Ahly.

After a standout season with Simba in 2020/21, Miquissone was signed by Ahly by coach Pitso Mosimane. 

However, he largely failed to live up to expectations in Cairo, scoring five goals in 28 appearances.

He was on loan at Abha Club but only made four appearances in the Saudi Pro League. 

Before his stints with Al Ahly and Simba, Miquissone was signed by Mamelodi Sundowns in January 2018 but was loaned out to Chippa United. 

Two more loan stints at Royal Eagles and UD Songo in his home country followed.

The Mozambican international returned to Simba for a second spell at the start of last season but had a testing campaign and struggled for form and fitness.

On his part, Juma, who has turned out for Singida United, will look to find another club in the next few days. He spent five seasons with Simba largely as a squad player.

The mass exodus comes after the club finished third in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

Simba are also on the lookout for a reliable striker which could cut short Pa Omar Jobe stay at Msimbazi. 

The Gambian forward joined the club in January this year but has struggled for game time under both Benchikha and Mgunda.