Barker Reveals Major Standard Difference Be…

Steve Barker Lists Biggest Difference Since Moving To Tanzania

Simba SC coach Steve Barker has revealed the biggest difference between the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the Tanzanian Premier League.

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Barker’s move from Stellenbosch to Simba in December 2025 may have come as a surprise to many, but the South African has risen to the challenge in Tanzania.

He has led Simba to second spot in the league, after a slow start that saw them eliminated from the CAF Champions League, and the focus remains on domestic success this season.

After speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, Barker revealed that the level of the pitches is what stands out most to him.

“In the PSL, with the infrastructure and stadiums we have, the playing surfaces are all at a good level. The biggest challenge is that some of the pitches in the Tanzanian Premier League are very challenging,” the 58-year-old said.

“You have to accept that it is what it is,” he said. “From a technical point of view, you have to adapt when you play on certain pitches. We want to play a style that a club like Simba should have, and we stick to that, but it is more challenging on difficult surfaces,” the Lesotho-born tactician added.

Beyond the surface, Barker also acknowledged the mental strength needed to overcome the surface troubles.

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“It’s also a mental approach, understanding that we can’t control the surfaces, but we can control how we approach it and not let it get to us,” he concluded.

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