Neo Maema en route to Egypt to join Simba SC pre-season camp | OneFootball

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Maema set to report for Simba training

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/ BackPagePix

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Neo Maema is on his way to Egypt, Cairo, where he will link up with his new teammates at the Simba SC pre-season camp, having agreed to join the Tanzanian giants ahead of the new season.

The 29-year-old recently parted ways with the reigning Betway Premiership champions after spending four years at Chloorkop. He made 120 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring 13 goals and providing 14 assists.

During his spell at Sundowns, Maema lifted seven trophies, including four league titles, one MTN8 trophy and as many Nedbank Cup silverware. In addition, he was part of the squad that won the inaugural African Football League [AFL].

However, the Bloemfontein Celtic academy product fell down the pecking order at the Tshwane giants in recent seasons. The left-footed attacker featured in 17 games in all competitions in the previous campaign.

As a result, he was deemed surplus to requirements, along with a host of prominent figures in the star-studded Sundowns squad, including Thembinkosi Lorch, Lebohang Maboe, Rivaldo Cotzee, and Sipho Mbule, among others.

Maema is now set to embark on a new journey at Simba, where he will join compatriots in head coach Fadlu Davids and ball-playing center-back Rushine De Reuck, whom they played together at Masandawana.

The Bafana Bafana international, who captained the South African national team at the African Nations Championship [CHAN], is expected to join the Tanzanian giants on a one-year deal with an option to extend his stay in East Africa.

With the Reds of Msimbazi returning to the CAF Champions League and eager to end Young Africans’ domestic dominance of clinching four consecutive league titles, Davids will be banking on the experience of his countrymen among others to achieve the team’s objectives.