Three Simba players for trials in EUROPE

[Lucchese DeCavalcante]

Three Simba and Taifa Stars players are expected to leave the country at the end of this month, to pursue professional football in European countries.The trio includes national team assistant skipper Henry Joseph, prodigy striker Mussa Hassan ‘Mgosi’ and the team’s promising defender David Naftari. Joseph had attended trial with Norwegian side Molde FK and reports had it that the dynamic midfield succeeded during a two-week tryout. However, he returned home to join national team, Taifa Stars for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), staged in Cote d’Ivoire from February 22--March 8. Speaking to the 'Daily News' yesterday, Simba’s Deputy Secretary General, Mohammed Mjenga, confirmed that Joseph’s move is still on card and he is set to go back to Norway to wrap up his dream when the Vodacom premier league wind up later this month. “It’s understandable that Joseph will leave for Norway, possibly at the end of this April. He’s still in the country because we requested him to stay behind so that he could help our team for the remainder of the season. “In fact the registration exercise (in Norway) gets underway in June, so he’s got a plenty of time.” Following alluring performance during the CHAN, Mgosi has attracted suitors too. Though Mjenga was uncertain on Mgosi possible destination, he confirmed that the club is aware of his impending move abroad. “He has attracted interest from some of European clubs. At the moment his affairs is taken care off with one of the international scouts, but he’s yet to make formal contact with our club,” said Mjenga. Mgosi displayed an impressive show during the matches. Albeit he didn’t score a single goal, he tormented defenders with speed sandwiched with eye-catching dribbles. He eventually selected among 18-bets players out of the eight teams that competed in the inaugural championship, earmarked specifically for domestic-based players. Mjenga affirmed on Naftari’s move to Bulgaria as well. While there the burly center back will join his former coach Krasimir Bezinski. The Bulgarian spent three months at the Msimbazi Street as the team’s head coach, before he was controversially sacked, following a series of poor results in the on-going premier league campaign. It was claimed that Bezinski was particularly impressed by Naftari’s talent during spell at the club and he planned to take him to Bulgaria. “He (Naftari) too is expected to leave at the end of this month,” Mjenga said of the young defender who can also be deployed as a striker. * * *