Tanzania: Steve Barker and Elie Mpanzu win NBC Premier League monthly awards

Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has been named the NBC Premier League Manager of the Month for October after guiding the Tanzanian giants to an impressive run of results.

Barker earned the accolade after overseeing three victories from three matches during the month, with his side maintaining their strong form in the Tanzanian top flight.

The highlight of Simba’s October campaign was their memorable derby triumph over arch-rivals Young Africans (Yanga), a result that further underlined Barker’s positive start to his time at the club.

The former Stellenbosch FC coach has made an immediate impact at Simba, with his tactical organisation and ability to get results earning him recognition from the league organisers.

Barker’s success was complemented by another individual award for Simba, with forward Elie Mpanzu being named the NBC Premier League Player of the Month for October.

Mpanzu enjoyed an impressive spell in front of goal, scoring three times during the period to help Simba maintain their winning momentum.

One of his most significant contributions came in the high-profile derby against Yanga, where he scored the decisive goal to hand Simba a crucial victory over their fiercest rivals.

The forward’s performances proved instrumental in Simba’s successful October campaign, making him a deserving recipient of the individual accolade.

The double recognition represents a significant achievement for Simba, with both their head coach and one of their key attacking players rewarded for their contributions.

Barker and Mpanzu will now be hoping to build on their individual successes as Simba continue their pursuit of domestic honours this season.