SIMBA SC has opted to camp in Zanzibar ahead of this season’s NBC Premier League clash against long-time rival Yanga to be played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

Wounded Simba SC is without a win in four games in all competitions including two knockout tournaments.

The Msimbazi Street squad bowed out of the CAF Champions League quarterfinal having lost to Egypt’s Al Ahly 3-0 in the two-leg tie.

Simba SC made its way back and was knocked out of this season’s CRDB Federation Cup after losing 6-5 to 10-man Mashujaa FC via penalties.

Speaking before leaving for the Isles, the club’s Information and Communication Manager Ahmed Ally said Simba SC is heading to Zanzibar as requested by head coach Abdelhak Benchikha.

The official revealed: "We are heading to Zanzibar as requested by head coach Benchikha, the team needs maximum concentration to get over the barrier of bad results that we have obtained in the recent games."

"Results hurt everyone in and outside the club as fans are not happy, but I ask fans to prepare and be in high spirit just like the team, Benchikha is gearing to change the wind of bad results,” Ally disclosed.

"We know we will have four games left, we will play after each two days and all these games need total concentration and ways for motivating ourselves- that is why we decided to head to Zanzibar as coach Benchikha elaborated," Ally revealed.

Simba SC lost 5-1 to Yanga in the NBC Premier League first-phase match, a result not too many supporters of the former would want to remember in the long run.

Benchikha is not pleased with his side's finishing in front of goal, as previously noted by assistant coach Suleiman Matola who said they need to quickly work on their clinicality.

“To continue to be in the race for the league title, there is no way out other than winning the derby. It will be a do-or-die match and we will have enough time to prepare for it,” Matola said.

The former Simba SC midfielder added: "We create a lot of chances that need to be converted and the way forward is to work on it on the training ground as much as we can and show progress on our Derby match versus Yanga."

With a game in hand, Simba SC (46 points) is currently trailing league leader Yanga Yanga (55 points) by nine points.