dyton mupawaenda
Bruce Chikuni-Sports Reporter
Former Simba Bhora captain, Tinashe “Maswera” Balakasi, has been unveiled by his new club, Orapa United, in Botswana.
Balakasi has signed a one-year contract.
He risked it all by leaving CAPS United in the Premier League to join Simba Bhora at the time they were still playing in Division Two.
Balakasi scored 25 goals to power Simba Bhora into the ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League, finishing as the league’s top scorer.
He reigned supreme in the Northern Region, scoring 32 goals to help his team become the first from Shamva to join the Premier League and have a dance with big boys like Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United.
As if that was not enough, he proved his critics wrong last season by scoring 10 goals to shield the miners from being swept away by relegation waters.
And, with a bit of luck, he could have also found himself on the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year calendar among the league’s best XI.
Balakasi received the same number of votes as Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya but missed out after a tie-breaker.
In the same season, he also became Simba Bhora’s first player to earn a Warriors call-up.
Despite moving to Botswana, Balakasi told Zimpapers Sports that Simba Bhora remains his home and he will be back.
“I’m now focusing on this new challenge. It has always been my dream to play in a foreign land.
“And I have been doing well for the past three seasons, so I can’t wait to see what this new league brings.
“Simba Bhora is my home, and I will never rule out the possibility of making a return in the future,” said Balakasi.
Balakasi also dismissed reports that he left Simba Bhora after being offered peanuts despite his profile.
“There is nothing like that. I was just offered more here in Botswana and it was also difficult for me to say no to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing in a foreign land.
“I have a good relationship with the team’s (Simba Bhora) owner. He has been there for me many times and he also told me to make a return if things don’t work out as planned.
“They have also made some good signings and I feel like this is their season to make a statement in the league because the fans see Simba Bhora as a big team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Simba Bhora has been conducting their pre-season training in Kariba for the past two weeks.
The team’s board member, Biri Shereni, volunteered at one of his hotels for the club during this period.
They are expected to return to their base today.
Online Reporter