Simba`s U-20 players celebrate the inaugural Super8 title haul after breezing past Mtibwa Sugar by 4-3 goals in the final played at the National Stadium in Dar es salaam on Saturday.

Following their unexpected milestone achievement during the just ended Super8 football league, fans and other stakeholders including coaches have hailed Simba’s U-20 team.

The stakeholders, who include the coach of the former Tanzania Sports Academy (TSA) coach Rogashian Kaijange, said the initiative to field a youthful side in the tourney works for football development and promotion.

The SimbaU-20 team cruised to a 4-3 win over Mtibwa Sugar in a final match played at the national Stadium in Dar es Salaam much to the amazement of soccer fans in the city.

Whether it was done in good faith or in experimentation, Simba’s U-20 team players displayed the brand of football to meet spectator’s interest.

He said Simba has shown the way forward for other premiership football clubs in the country to emulate.

Kaijage said in a country where a serious youth leagues are rare, young players must be given an opportunity to feature in competitive events like the Super8, so as to build confidence of the players.

He also asked the Football Federation (TFF) to have a very good strategic plan aimed at developing football at all levels. He also asked the football federation to take a leaf from Zambia where the country reaps fruits of investing in youth football development.  

“Simba FC must be congratulated for giving youth football a priority, we have only Uhai youth league which is played for three weeks only. So for a big club like Simba to feature its youth team in such tournament is a good development worth emulating”, he said.

He urged the junior national team coaches to make use of young players who were outstanding during the tournament. He appealed to TFF and football clubs in the country to devise plans which will ensure promising football talents are maintained and are given consideration they deserve.

Simba youth Team coach Suleiman Matola also thanked the club’s management for giving his side a chance to play in the tournament. Matola said the country has many promising players only that they are not given prominence.

Matola went on to urge the TFF and other football stakeholders to organise many youth football tournaments for youngsters to stay active throughout the year.

One of the Simba youth team players, 17 years old Edward Christopher thanked Simba management for giving them the opportunity to play in the tournament.

He said winning the trophy was as a result of dedication, hard working and following instructions by their coach.
  
“Football clubs should develop interest in youth teams; there are quite a number of good players who have potential to excel given a chance. We have won this trophy because our management has trusted in us and we promise to do more given the chance”, he said.
 
 With regard to teen football promotion, so far only Simba and Azam FC have thrown efforts to develop and maintain
well organised teams.

The BancABC Super8 trophy is the second silverware collection for Simba youthful side after the Uhai one.