BURUNDIAN defender Gilbert Kaze jetted in Dar es Salaam to join Mainland giants Simba Sports Club ahead of next season's Vodacom Premier League, which kicks off on August 24, this year.

Simba Information Officer Ezekiel Kamwaga confirmed that Kaze (28) will straight away sign a deal to play for Simba next season.

Kaze was at the heart of Vital' O defence when the Burundian Champions won the 2013 CECAFA Kagame Club Championship title for the first time in their history after a superb 2-0 win over three-time winners APR in an exciting final in North Darfur, Sudan last month.

"He is not coming here for trials, his ability is well known in Burundi and beyond. He marshaled Vital'O defence at the recently held Kagame Cup in Sudan and has roundly been outstanding for Burundi national team," said Kamwaga. Before joining Vital'O, Kaze had a spell with Police FC of Burundi.

Simba had already completed a coup last month after signing the 2013 Kagame Cup's top scorer Tambwe Amissi also from Vital'O. The Msimbazi Reds have also agreed personal terms with former defender, Ugandan Joseph Owino, who is now re-joining the club from URA of Uganda.

Owino promised the fans restoration of the team's glory. Owino has signed a two-year contract as Simba look to strengthen their defence, which was considered as a weak link for the team's campaign both in local and international competitions last season.

Kamwaga confirmed that Owino has completed his move back to Simba where he played successfully in the 2010/11 season but was dropped after suffering a serious knee injury. He was treated in India and later the towering defender joined Azam FC before he left mid last season to join URA.

Kamwaga said Owino's arrival is a timely boost to the squad ahead of the top flight league kick off. Many soccer pundits also expect the Ugandan will add quality and strength to Simba's defence, which for the past few seasons has been leaking in many games contrary to the team's past history. Owino started his football career in Masaza football tournament before joining Uganda's SC Villa.

He later joined Simba SC in 2010 where he was a member of the team that made a historic unbeaten season that saw Simba SC winning the domestic league in Tanzania. Such classic display in Simba triggered a transfer offer from Azam FC to Simba which ended into Azam landing him in 2011.

At Azam FC, his defensive tactics assisted the club to clinch the 2012 CECAFA Kagame Cup final slot in Dar es Salaam but they lost to Young Africans. Owino has also played for the Uganda national team -- the Cranes -- in a number of engagements including CHAN qualifiers and CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

He rejoins his former club in a turbulence period that is witnessing the club turning down a number of foreign defenders, who came in for trials. Those axed include Ugandan duo Samuel Ssenkoom and Assuman Buyinzi.

The Reds also axed striker James Kun from South Sudan and DR Congo midfielder Felix Cuipoi. Kaze and Owino are set to feature for the club engagements starting with a friendly tie against SC Villa on August 10 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, a match which will be played as part of activities to mark annual Simba Day.

Kamwaga also insisted that Ugandan striker Mosses Oloya was set to arrive in the country on August 24, this year ready to finalise his move to Simba. A section of local media reported this week that the highly rated Uganda Cranes striker has snubbed Simba and will now join rivals Yanga.