Dewji highlights Simba priorities

SIMBA’s new owner, Mohammed Dewji, has vowed to transform the Msimbazi Reds club into one of the formidable and top football clubs in Africa.

Dewji won a 20bn/- take over bid to become among majority shareholder, while the remaining 51 per cent of the stakes will be owned by other club members. Simba has been undergoing a transformation

process by changing its legal and institutional framework from a members’ association into a public limited liability company to be known as Simba Sports Club Limited, which will be formed jointly between current members and Dewji.

During the members’ extraordinary meeting at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salam yesterday, Chairman of the Special Committee of Investment, Judge (Rtd), Thomas Mihayo, declared Dewji as a winner of the 49 per cent stake at the club.

Mihayo told at least 1,320 club members from various parts of the country, who attended the meeting that Dewji was a sole applicant, who submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) to invest in Simba SC Limited with a minimum capital injection of 20bn/-.

According to Simba’s interim President, Salim Abdallah, the club will enter into a six month transitional period under a new leadership structure. Abdallah said under a new structure, the team will be under 14 members’ board, of which, seven will be picked from the members of the Executive Committee and seven others will be picked by Dewji.

“During this transitional period, members of the committee will be tasked to oversee various programmes and projects, which include discussions over major investments, coming up with new projects, to hire experts, who will be required to implement several strategic plans,” he said.

Abdallah, popularly known as ‘Try Again’ insisted that throughout the take over process, members’ rights and interest will strictly be taken on board. Dewji would be taking a club ready-made with large fan base, recognisable brand and proud tradition, but with no steady management and steady profits.

As he takes over, Dewji said he is aware that Simba’s history is long and rich, but in recent years the club has become more comfortable looking back than forward. Trophies in their cupboards were becoming less and less.

Dewji, who is the president of Mohamed Enterprises Limited (MeTL), is determined to change the club’s fate and has come up with ten priorities. In his first year after taking over, Dewji alias ‘MO’ has promised to ensure that club retains its rightful place in the continental football and compete with elite clubs in Africa.

“My ambition is to bring Simba to the top in Africa in few years to come and I hope it can be done. I think a lot of Simba fans are eager to see their club get back up in African football, so the next one year will be very tough for me. I hope we can do it.” He is planning to set up an artificial training ground and another natural turf pitch as well as modern hostels with over 30 rooms for players and technical bench staff.

A restaurant to serve players, technical staff and officials will also be put in place. He will also set up a stateof- the-art gym a standard swimming pool for players to train and relax. Youth football will also be given a priority and Under-14, 16. And 18 teams will be formed.

Dewji also said the commercial aspect and branding of the club will highly be taken into account with quality merchandise on display and sale. He said money for the transfer market will not be a problem as he will provide 500m/- to be used by the technical bench for matters like camping and another 1bn/- for registering new players.

Dewji said attracting top quality players who could transform the club will also be another priority. Initially, Dewji, wanted to own 51 per cent of the club shares, which will make him majority, but the government issued a directive that only 49 per cent should be sold to an individual.


The changes make Simba the first club in the country and perhaps in the region, to transform from members to corporate club ownership.