Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji steps down as Simba Sports Club chairman

Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji has stepped down as the chairman of Simba Sports Club.

In a press statement posted on Twitter on Sept. 29, Dewji said he was stepping down as chairman of the club due to his extremely busy schedule, which involves significant international travel.

“I am always traveling abroad which makes me out of the club activities.” Dewji said. “We had a meeting with the board members and agreed to take the decision. I am not leaving the club and I will continue to be the team’s investor as well as a member. This is my life club; I will never leave until my last day in the World. I will continue to feature in all club activities as a member and investor.”

In the four years the business mogul has been at its helm, the popular football club won four championships in successive seasons, reaching the CAF Champions League quarterfinals on two occasions. It was also frequently listed among the top 10 football clubs in Africa.

Simba’s erstwhile Vice Chairman Salim Abdallah, who is popularly referred to as “Try Again,” will take up the position as the new board chairman.

In July this year, Dewji paid $8.6 million to acquire a 49-percent stake in Simba SC.

Dewji, 46, is the owner of MeTL Group, a diversified Tanzania-based conglomerate founded by his father in the 1970s. The company has a workforce of more than 24,000 people across Africa and operates in trading, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and petroleum, financial services and other industries.