T-Team signs former Perlis striker Zachariah Simukonda

Zambian hitman Zachariah Simukonda will play for Terengganu T-Team in the Super League, which kicks-off in January next year.

Simukonda, an influential figure for Perlis from 2005 to 2007, was yesterday confirmed as the Terengganu club side’s first foreign signing for the new season.

“He may be 35 but he has not lost his killer instinct,” said T-Team coach Yunus Alif.

“We need his experience. He is no stranger to Malaysian football and that’s an added advantage.”

Zachariah Simukonda is no stranger to Malaysian football as he played for Perlis from 2005 to 2007.

After leaving the Northern Lions, Simukonda joined Syrian club Al-Jaish Damascus. He was there for two years and then left to play for Al-Faisaly, also in Syria, from 2009-2010.

Last season, he returned home to play for Red Arrows in the Zambian League.

Simukonda has already proved his worth, firing home the winner in T-Team’s win over state side Terengganu in a warm-up match. He also played crucial roles in the 3-2 win over Sime Darby and the 1-2 loss to Felda United.

Having signed Simukonda, Yunus’ next task is to sign a defender. Three foreign defenders – Bosnia’s Bojan Petric, Serbian Nenad Patrovic and Zambian Evans Chisulo – are now on trial. Yunus will test all three in today’s friendly against Police.

The 27-year-old Bosnian featured for Borac Banja Luka FK in the European Champions League in July.

Coupled with his towering height of 1.90m, Petric is the favourite to complete Yunus’ foreign signings for the new season.

Yunus, who led T-Team to a surprise semi-final berth in last season’s Malaysia Cup semi-finals, has also left no stone unturned in his search for local players.

He has roped in eight local players following the departure of Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Azizi Mat Rose and Mohd Nor Farhan. The eight are are Mohd Hassan Basri, Wan Mohd Alif Jasmi, Zharif Hasna (all Terengganu), goalkeeper Mohd Iqbal Suhaimi, Mohd Fadzli Saari (both Selangor), Wan Kahirul Kamaruddin, Mohd Faiz Subri (both Perlis) and Shaharul Faisal (Kedah).