Tanzanian football giants Simba SC have officially announced the signing of South African midfielder Neo Maema following his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 29-year-old joins the club after concluding national team duties with Bafana Bafana at the CHAN tournament in Uganda, where he served as captain. His arrival was slightly delayed due to international commitments but has now been completed, with Maema linking up with his new teammates in Ismailia, Egypt for pre-season.
Maema joins a Simba SC side managed by fellow South African Fadlu Davids, who took over at the start of the 2024/25 season and enjoyed an impressive first campaign, guiding the club to second place in the Tanzanian Premier League and reaching the CAF Confederation Cup final. Davids is now looking to strengthen the squad further ahead of the 2025/26 season, and Maema’s experience is seen as a valuable addition in the push to dethrone arch-rivals Young Africans, who have dominated the league for the past four years.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic playmaker spent four successful seasons at the Brazilians after joining in 2021. During his time at the Pretoria-based club, Maema made 120 appearances, scored 13 goals, and registered 14 assists. He won four Premier Soccer League titles, the Nedbank Cup, an MTN8 trophy, and was part of the squad that triumphed in the inaugural African Football League.
Simba SC welcomed Maema with a post on their official social media platforms, writing: “Welcome to Simba SC, Neo Maema.” His arrival follows that of another former Sundowns player, defender Rushine De Reuck, as Davids continues to build a squad capable of challenging for domestic and continental honours.
With Maema now officially on board and pre-season preparations underway in Egypt, Simba SC are expected to announce more signings in the coming days as it gears up for a pivotal campaign in its pursuit of silverware.