Mo agrees to 49pc Simba stake

BUSINESSMAN Mohammed Dewji has bowed to government’s regulation stipulating that if a club is run as a commercial company, the majority of the voting shares of that company have to be controlled by members.
 
Initially, Dewji, wanted to own 51 per cent of the Mainland champions Simba SC shares, which will make him majority shareholder of the club, but the government issued a directive that only 49 per cent should be sold to an individual.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday,the Msimbazi Street’s club Lawyer, Evodius Mtawala said everything in regard to the club’s transformation process was going on smoothly with Dewji agreeing to take 49 per cent stake at the club.

He called on members of the club to turn up in big number during the members’ meeting at the Julius Nyerere International Convection Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam on Sunday, to make constitutional amendments.

During the previous extraordinary member’s meeting held at the same venue on December 3rd last year, it was announced Dewji won a 20bn/- takeover bid to become among majority shareholders, while the remaining 50 per cent of the stakes will be owned by other club members.

However, Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports later insisted the clubs to adhere to a clause in the regulations of the registration which states that a club must hold a majority of its own voting rights Simba have been undergoing a transformation process by changing its legal and institutional framework from a members’ association into a public limited liability company to be known as Simba Sports Club Limited, which will be formed jointly between current members and Dewji.

During the members’ extraordinary meeting, Chairman of the Special Committee of Investment, Judge Rtd, Thomas Mihayo, declared Dewji as a winner of the 50 per cent stake at the club.

Mihayo told at least 1320 club members from various parts of the country, who attended the meeting that Dewji was a sole applicant, who submitted Expression of Interest (EOI) to invest in Simba SC Limited with a minimum capital injection of 20bn/-.

According to Simba’s interim President, Salim Abdallah, the club was due to enter into a sixmonth transitional period under a new leadership structure. Abdallah said under a new structure, the team will be under 14 members’ board, of which, seven will be picked from the members of the Executive Committee and seven others will be picked by Dewji.

“During this transitional period, the members of the committee will be tasked to oversee various programmes and projects, which include discussions over major investments, coming up with new projects, to hire experts, who will be required to implement various strategic plans,” he said.

Abdallah popularly known as ‘Try Again’ insisted that throughout the takeover process, members’ rights and interest will strictly be taken on board. Simba were owned exclusively by members. Dewji would be taking a club ready-made with large fan base, recognisable brand and proud tradition but with no steady management and steady profits.

As he takes over, Dewji said he is aware that Simba’s history is long and rich, but in recent years the club has become more comfortable looking back than forward.

Trophies in their cupboards were becoming less and less. Dewji, who is the president of Mohamed Enterprises Limited (MeTL), is determined to change the club’s fate and has come up with ten priorities.

In his first year after taking over, Dewji alia ‘MO’ has promised to ensure that club retains its rightful place in the continental football and compete with elite clubs in Africa. “My ambition is to bring Simba to the top in Africa in few years to come and I hope it can be done.

I think a lot of Simba fans are eager to see their club get back up in Africans football, so the next one year will be very tough for me. I hope we can do it.” He is planning to set up an artificial training ground and another natural turf pitch as well as modern hostels with over 30 rooms for players and technical bench staff. A restaurant to serve players, technical staff and officials will also be put in place.

He will also set up a stateof- the-art gym a standard swimming pool for players to train and relax. Youth football will also be given a priority and Under- 14, 16. And 18 teams will be formed.

Dewji also had said the commercial aspect and branding of the club would highly be taken into account with quality merchandise on display and sale. He said money for the transfer market would not be a problem as he will provide 500m/- to be used by the technical bench for matters like camping and another 1bn/- for registering new players.

Dewji said attracting top quality players who could transform the club will also be another priority.