Simba SC says it has neither been shaken nor surprised by rivals Yanga SC signing striker Suleiman Mwalimu, who had initially been announced as a Wekundu wa Msimbazi player.
Simba Board of Directors Chairman Crescentius Magori said the club has not been thrown into panic by Yanga’s decision to sign Mwalimu, explaining that the main issue holding them back was the cost involved in completing the striker’s transfer from Moroccan club Wydad AC.
According to Magori, Simba was not satisfied with the amount of money required to sign Mwalimu on a one-season loan from Wydad.
“It is a very minor matter, and there is absolutely no panic on our side. Suleiman Mwalimu is not a player worth paying one billion shillings for a one-season loan,” Magori said.
Yanga Paid Around Sh500 Million
Yanga are understood to have completed Mwalimu’s signing after paying Wydad an estimated Sh500 million to secure the striker on a one-season loan.
The move came after Simba failed to complete the payment on time, despite Mwalimu having already returned to Tanzania and joined Simba’s training camp in Zanzibar.
Mwalimu arrived in Zanzibar and took part in Simba’s team activities, leading many to believe that his move to Msimbazi had already been completed.
However, the situation changed within a short period after Yanga entered the process and eventually completed the deal.
Simba: The Cost Was Too High
From Simba’s perspective, the issue appears to have been more commercial than a direct battle with Yanga.
The total cost of signing Mwalimu, including his salary for the entire year and other registration-related fees, is reportedly around Sh1 billion.
Magori’s comments therefore suggest that Simba was hesitant to spend such an amount on a player who would only be with the squad for one season on loan, despite initially agreeing to pay the fee to secure his services.
Yanga Add Another Striker
Yanga, meanwhile, have successfully secured Mwalimu, who had been part of Simba’s plans before the deal took an unexpected turn.
The signing gives Yanga another option in attack ahead of the 2026/27 season and could potentially force Simba back into the transfer market in search of another striker before the window closes.
The transfer window is expected to close on August 15 at 11:59 p.m.
