Augustine Okrah signing will solve one big tactical problem at Simba SC amid next seson’s Caf Champions League
Simba Sporting Club have completed the signing of winger Augustine Okrah from Ghana Premier League outfit Bechem United this summer transfer window.
Simba’s interest in Okrah was something that the Tanzanian side could not resist following the player’s tremendous transition in career after helping Bechem United to a Ghana Premier League third place finish and FA Cup final along with earning a Black Stars call-up in Ghana’s 2022 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Central Africa Republic.
At the end of Ghana’s league first round, Okrah had already attracted interest from Scandinavian clubs and Asia. A surge in form at the second round will a matter of fact increase chances of moving to a bigger club abroad.
Since the end of the Ghana Premier League, he was thought to appear on the radar of local champions Asante Kotoko, African giants Al Ahly and IF Elfsborg.
But Simba did the needful dragging Okrah’s parent club Bechem United to the negotiation table and agreed a deal to bring the Ghanaian sensation to Dar es Salaam.
The 28 old has began life well with his new Tanzanian side netting in Simba’s pre-season friendly against Egyptian side Ismaily that ended 1-1 after 90′ minutes two ago.
Simba’s dominance in the Tanzanian league for the past 4 years was broken by Young Africans this season. That will not be a big lose for the former champions who have sight set in the Caf Champions League title for the last decade.
Simba’s African Champions League hopes have been dented in the last 10-years despite improving upon their level in the last three years. They appear to have suffered from the cutting edge from individuality to denied them qualification to quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League.
With the signing of Augustine Okrah, Simba will have that tactical problem resolved in Africa this time with the Ghanaian International having a sharper individual instinct. With the arrival of Okrah, Simba are nearing levels of the likes of Raja Casablanca, TP Mazembe, Wydad Casablanca and Al Ahly who all have a player with that exceptional individual brilliance.
Having proven in the Ghana Premier League over the years, Okrah has gained a vast African experience at Al Merrikh, Al Hilal and Asante Kotoko- among African top clubs.
Okrah was awarded with the Black Stars call-up at the beginning of this year in Ghana’s 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Ethiopia and Mozambique, and for the local Black Stars he has always been a regular starter.
And that earning to a Simba signing with national team experience. Like many Caf Champions League stars have proven in the competition, carrying their teams on shoulder, Okrah will offer Simba that magic in next season’s tournament. This opinion would have been argued but Okrah’s record in the Ghanaian league especially against the big sides is enough to support the idea of leading a team in difficult times.
Not to reflect on many games in Ghana last term but only on the FA Cup final against Hearts of Oak, he led Bechem United to dominate a very strong domestic Hearts especially in the first half, and on individual level was a hell of a mountain for the former GPL champions to climb.
This is part of the quality Okrah brings to Simba in the Africa Champions that for years the Tanzanian side have missed causing an average of group stage football. Most of the North African clubs have been aware of the individual instinct with Zamalek relying on Zizo and Ashraf Bencharki, Al Ahly on Percy Tau though the project with the South African International has not went per planned, Wydad Casablanca on Yahaya Jabrane.
Simba now have their own in Augustine Okrah who their technical team have to depend so much on if they are to to qualify to the Caf Champions League quarter-finals.
