South African tactician Steve Barker guided Simba SC to a thumping 3-0 success over Fountain Gate in the Tanzanian Premier League on Wednesday afternoon.
The Reds of Msimbazi narrowed the gap on league leaders and rivals Young Africans SC to just five points after matchday 18.
Since making the switch to Tanzania from Stellenbosch FC in December 2025, Barker has already twice achieved individual success.
He was named Coach of the Month for March – bagging the award back-to-back after doing the same in February.
The former AmaZulu mentor had a good run in March, winning three games and drawing two, managing to keep the pressure on Yanga at the summit.
Simba also netted seven goals in the five games they played and conceded only two goals in that time period, and boast one of the best defensive records in the league conceding just six goals with Azam FC conceding five and Yanga three.
On Wednesday, Barker orchestrated yet another win on the road to stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches on the trot.
Clatous Chama gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of halftime before Libasse Guèye added the second in the 58th minute.
The Red Lions were not done as Elie Mpanzu made it 3-0 in the 71st minute for the all-important maximum points.
The South African duo of defender Rushine de Reuck and midfielder Neo Maema have equally been on song at Simba since leaving Mamelodi Sundowns and will be hoping to contribute immensely in their aim to bring the glory days back to Simba, who last won a league title in the 2020/21 season.
They both started the match as Simba recorded their 11th league win after 18 outings, losing just one and playing to six draws.
Maema, who struggled for game time at the beginning of the season before forcing his way into the squad, was awarded the Man of the Match accolade at the beginning of April as Simba beat Coastal Union 2-0 where he provided the assist for ex-Stellenbosch FC defender Ismaël Olivier Toure for the opening goal.
Captain De Reuck has enjoyed an incredible return to form since joining the club in the off-season and was rewarded with a year-long extension stay with the club, having also racked up a few man of the match awards.
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