SIMBA SC is in a prime position to land Congolese coach Florent Ibenge, who has requested to leave Sudanese club Al Hilal despite the team’s efforts to retain him.

The Msimbazi Street club is further in the process of signing two midfielders from Hafia FC of Guinea, 21-year-old Mohamed Damaro Camara and 23-year-old Ousmane Fernandez ‘Drame’.

According to a trusted source, Ibenge has met twice with Al Hilal’s leadership, which expressed trust in him.

However, Ibenge is adamant about leaving, citing his desire to coach in the Premier League and compete for titles.

“The leaders assured the coach of their trust in his performance and requested him to stay, but he refused because Al Hilal is currently not playing in the domestic league due to the ongoing unrest in Sudan,” the source revealed.

Even though Al Hilal’s request to participate in the NBC Premier League was accepted by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Ibenge appears unmoved.

Ibenge is reportedly a top contender for replacing Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha as Simba SC’s head coach following the latter's departure.

The Congolese's decision to leave Al Hilal suggests that a potential agreement with Simba SC might already be in place.

Simba SC has shown interest in hiring Ibenge, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the squad's head coach before. The Msimbazi Street squad missed out on Ibenge in 2022, ultimately appointing Zoran Maki.

In addition to pursuing Ibenge, Simba SC has turned its attention to Guinea to bolster the outfit's midfield.

Camara and Drame are seen as replacements for midfielders who are rumoured to be leaving the Msimbazi Street outfit at the end of the season.

Camara is a holding midfielder, while Drame offers versatility, capable of playing in both defensive and box-to-box midfield roles.

Simba SC’s Information and Communication Manager, Ahmed Ally, assured the side’s fans that things are progressing well.

However, he emphasized that discussing either the coach or player signing is premature. The club’s current focus is securing a top-two finish to qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League.

“We are committed to bringing in a top coach and making significant signings this time around,” Ally reassured fans.

“We urge our fans to remain patient. Now is the time for unity and focus on securing a CAF Champions League spot.”

Ally acknowledged the need for tough decisions to improve the team and promised signings that would satisfy the fans. 

He also stated that a review of the technical bench’s performance under Juma Mgunda will be conducted alongside the technical committee. These assessments will guide areas for improvement at the end of the season.

“I assure the fans that next season, we will make changes that will leave everyone speechless, we are determined to regain our former glory,” Ally remarked.