Deadline day transfers bring dynamism to Benchikha

With the Msimbazi Street outfit having introduced Pa Omar Jobe and Michael Kouablan, the squad’s attacking pattern is definitely about to change.

The side looks to have answered head coach Abdelhak Benchikha's calls by signing two prolific strikers backed by the ballers' statistical data that substantiate their prowess.

Both Jobe and Kouablan have penned a two-year deal with the Msimbazi Street squad, which is in dire need of a prolific forward.

The Algerian gaffer revealed to the media after his club had lost to Mlandege FC in the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup final: “In the first half, we played very well but, after conceding the goal in the second half, automatically the team sat behind.”

Benchikha, as a result, missed the opportunity to win his first silverware while at the helm of Simba SC's technical bench.

"It was difficult for us. We do not have strong forwards, Simba SC needs strong forwards for the CAF Champions League,” the Algerian tactician, who pushed Simba SC leaders to quickly find elite strikers, said.

Acquisition of Ivorian striker Kouablan from Zambia's MTN Super League side Green Eagles, the goal-getter was leading the top flight's goalscoring chart with 14 strikes in 17 games.  

Kouablan joined Green Eagles, nicknamed 'Kawale Boys', from Angolan side Desportivo da Huila at the start of the 2023/24 season.

He is now expected to battle for a starting place in Simba SC with the likes of Jobe, John Bocco, Said Ntibazokinza, Kibu Denis, and others. 

Jobe, aged 25, boasts an impressive football career, having played for esteemed teams such as Gambia's Real De Banjul FC, Senegal's ASEC Ndiambour, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmond in Bangladesh, and FC Shkendija of North Macedonia. 

He moreover played for Struga of North Macedonia, FC Neman Grodno in Belarus, and Zhenis in Kazakhstan, before moving to Simba SC in Tanzania.

Jobe has scored 41 goals and executed 10 assists in 73 games according to Germany-based Transfermarkt, a network offering footballing information, statistics and transfer news.

With successful deadline acquisition, Simba SC fans shall see either experienced two strikers on the pitch, or one prominent goal scorer who is expected to become Benchikha's talisman in various formation and structural set-ups.

Benchikha opted to line up with two ballers operating in number nine, with one playing on the flanks, when the gaffer was taking charge of USM Alger.

With both Jobe and Kouablan being dynamic and able to cut in from the flanks in both 4-4-2 diamond formation and 4-3-3 formation to 4-2-3-1, the Algerian gaffer will have a chance to utilize them on the pitch.

Simba SC's left-wing currently looks to be occupied by Cameroonian Willy Onana- he has turned out to be Benchikha's trusted player due to his ability to take on defenders in one against one situation.

The winger can moreover hold on to the ball in link-up plays- a move that engages his teammates.

The right wing is open for The Gambian and Ivorian Kouablan with both Denis and Lusi Miquissoine yet to please the gaffer.

Should Benchikha opt for the right wing to utilize his two strikers, Simba SC stands to get a variety of bench options to impact the game, an area the outfit struggled in the last two seasons given fringe players were not as impactful as they should have been.

This also eliminates the imbalances of playing either Clatous Chama or Ntibazonkiza on the flanks. It adds more battle for the two players to impress the coach in the attacking midfield area, which is commonly known as a number 10.

Winger Luis Miquissoine is dynamic- the baller can competently play on either the left or right flank, and Denis can do the former's work too- this adds more threat going forward as the squad will have a variety of attacking options.

The central midfield area is now complete, given that Senegalese Babacar Sarr is set to move to the defensive midfielder role while Congolese Fabrice Ngoma is set to move into offensive midfield. Sadio Kanoute and Mzamiru Yassin stand to deputize the midfielder.

The defensive area is now full of competition following a stellar game showcased by Hussein Kazi during the 2024 Mapinduzi Cup.

Kazi is set to rotate with fellow central defenders- Henock Inonga and Che Malone Fondoh- while Kennedy Juma remains impressive coming off the bench.

Simba SC's goalkeeper spot is up for grabs, Aishi Manula’s performance while serving Taifa Stars in the 2023 AFCON is expected to have an impact on Moroccan Ayub Lakred's position, as is the case with the outfit's young keeper, Tanzanian Ally Salim.