- ··· Club celebrate 90 years of glory
DAR ES SALAAM: SIMBA Sports Club has unveiled an ambitious 29.5bn/- revenue target for the 2025/26 campaign, a 13.5 per cent increase on last season’s 26bn/- budget, as the Tanzanian giants seek to consolidate their position on and off the pitch ahead of their 90th anniversary year.
The club collected 24bn/- last season—7.7 per cent below target—after the abrupt withdrawal of former sponsor M-Bet.
Acting Finance Manager Suleiman Kahumbu said the termination left a significant hole in the club’s commercial plans, confirming that Simba has taken legal action over the alleged breach of contract.
Kahumbu noted that stronger sponsorship backing is expected to drive this season’s revenue rebound. The club’s main sponsor contributed 4.38bn/- last term, a figure that has risen to 6.38bn/- and is earmarked specifically for transfer-market expenditure.
Club chairman Murtaza Mangungu told members that Simba’s financial trajectory hinges heavily on the strength of its brand, urging supporters to continue safeguarding the club’s identity.
“Much of our revenue depends on the value of our badge. I urge members to protect it— our brand is one of our greatest assets,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer Zubeda Sakuru praised fans and members for their resilience during what she described as a season of meaningful progress.
Simba climbed from third place in 2023/24 to finish runners-up last season, while also reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final— a run Sakuru said underlined the club’s renewed continental competitiveness.
“Improving from third to second and reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final shows how far the team has come. It has been a successful season on and off the pitch,” she said.
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Sakuru also confirmed that preparations are under way for Simba@90, a year-long celebration marking the club’s founding in 1936.
The milestone, she said, will spotlight Simba’s storied history and its long-term ambition to remain one of East Africa’s most formidable football institutions.
“As we approach 90 years, Simba@90 will celebrate our heritage, our achievements and the loyalty of our members. It’s a moment every Simba fan can be proud of,” she added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Hamisi Mwinjuma assured members that the government will not interfere in internal club matters, including governance reforms.
He emphasised that decisions on structural changes rest solely with members.
“The decision to change a club’s system must come from its members. The government has not imposed any transformation process,” he said, noting that the state’s role is limited to ensuring reforms comply with the law and protect both members and investors.