Algerian Benchikha leaves as Simba SC head coach

• Benchikha has left due to a family issue
• He has been at the helm of Simba for five months
• Simba trail leaders Yanga in the league

Simba SC has announced that they have parted ways with their head coach Abdelhak Benchikha, who has asked to return home to attend to family matters.

The Algerian, who joined Simba in November last year leaves after just five months in charge and having led Wekundu wa Msimbazi to the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League. His last match in charge was this weekend’s 1-0 win over Azam FC in the Muungano Cup in Zanzibar.

In a statement, Wekundu wa Msimbazi said that benchikha has asked to leave the club to return home and attend to his ailing wife, and the club has duly accepted his request.

Speaking to the club’s official social media channels, the tactician said he enjoyed his life at the club and wished them all the best in the rest of the season.

“This was like a family for me and I want to wish everyone all the best. I hope the fans understand this reason why I had to leave. Simba will always be in my heart,” said the coach.

He joined the club after leading USM Alger to the CAF Confederation Cup title last season. Simba had hope to tap into his expertise as they chased the league title as well as a good performance on the continent.

Simba coach Benchikha leaves with assistants

Simba departed coach Abdelhak benchikha. PHOTO/Simba

He leaves with his two assistants, Kamal Boujnane and Farid Zemit. The club has also announced that veteran tactician Juma Mgunda, who has been in charge of the women’s team, will take charge of the team until the governing board makes a decision on the new coach.

Meanwhile, the Tanzanian giants hope that their victory in the Muungano Cup will  spur their charge for the Premier League title, in their bid to end the campaign with a major title. Simba are already out of contention in the Cup, and have all their hopes in the league, despite being behind Young Africans in the standings.

They are third in the standings with 46 points, 16 behind leaders Young Africans, who have however played three matches more. If Simba can win all their matches at hand, they will squeeze the gap to seven points, with six rounds of matches left.

“This is football and you never know what might happen. We will just give our best in the remaining matches of the season and we see what comes off it,” said skipper Mohammed Hussein.

Simba win Muungano Cup

Simba celebrate winning the Muungano Cup. PHOTO/Simba

Simba won the Muungano Cup, after a 1-0 win over Azam FC at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar. Babacarr Sarr scored the winning goal for Simba 13 minutes to time, finishing off a freekick from Israel Mwenda.

Simba are now headed back to Dar es Salaam, to put their focus on the remaining matches. They are now under the tutelage of interim coach Juma Mgunda, after Algerian Abdelhak Benchikha parted ways with the club on mutual agreement.

They play Namungo SC on Tuesday evening, hoping to get a win and push up in the standings.

“We know it is going to be a tough game because Namungo is a good team with very experienced players. But we have trained well and prepared adequately to ensure that we can get a win. We know there is massive expectation for us and we are ready for that,” the coach opined.

Mgunda has already taken the team through one training session and will be on the bench against Namungo.

Yanga scent league title after Coastal win

Yanga SC players celebrate their win. PHOTO/Yanga

Meanwhile, Tanzanian Premier League leaders Yanga SC continued their match towards successfully defending their title, after seeing off Coastal Union by a solitary goal at the Azam Complex in Chamazi.

Ivorian striker Joseph Guede scored the vital goal for Yanga against a stubborn Coastal side, a win that sees them cement their hold on top of the standings.

Guede volleyed the ball home from inside the box, after the Coastal Union defense struggled to clear the ball in the box, with Zambian Kennedy Musonda touching it down for the Ivorian to rifle home.

With the victory, Yanga are eight points clear of second placed Azam FC and with six matches left before the season ends, they have one hand on the trophy.

Despite the good performance and the scent of victory, coach Miguel Gamondi has urged his players to keep their feet down.

“We know that we are closing in now on our ambition but the work is not done yet. We need to continue working and taking every game seriously. We are fighting or two trophies this season and we cannot afford to let our guard down,” the coach noted.