Can Simba bounce back from Axis heartbreak?

Bruce Chikuni

SIMBA Bhora are set to defend the ZIFA Northern Region Division One League’s badge in a inter-regional Super Cup against Green Fuel.

The Lowveld side won the ZIFA Eastern Region League championship.

The blockbuster is slated for Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on Saturday.

It will be Simba Bhora’s hitman, Tinashe Balakasi, against Green Fuel’s goalie, Tadious Baye.

The duo have been the most outstanding players across all the four domestic leagues.

Balakasi banged in 29 goals in the Northern Region, while Baye kept 22 clean sheets.

The two sides will need one of these two to be at their best if they are to win the Super Cup.

Simba Bhora won their home fixtures with ease in the league championship

Chegutu Pirates are the only team who walked away with maximum points from Shamva, as other clubs were humiliated, usually by wide margins.

During the mid-season break, the Shamva side beat Masvingo United 1-0 in the Independence Cup at Mucheke.

Simba Bhora missed their chance of claiming a League and Cup double when they lost 0-2 to bitter rivals Golden Eagles in the Axis Solutions Super8 Cup.

They can still lift more silverware should they get the better of the Eastern Region champions.

Balakasi said they are aware of the difficult task at hand.

“It’s not going to be a walk in the park.

“Green Fuel are not champions of the Eastern Region by chance, they earned their stripes.”

He added:

“We are coming from an Axis Solutions Super8 Cup loss, and we have to compensate our paymasters by winning this assignment.

“We also need to show why we won the championship, and I think we should make use of home advantage.”

The two sides are likely going to use this fixture to assess players for the PSL.