CAN SIMBA WIN TITLE WITHOUT A HOME LOSS?

Robson Sharuko

Editor

CHARLES Mhlauri’s CAPS United Immortals Class of 2004 almost did it but fell short by just one game – a seven-goal thriller that set a benchmark for a goal feast.

The Green Machine lost that game 3-4 to Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium.

It was the only match Mhlauri and his super men lost all season in the league as they powered to a deserved league title.

They never lost on the road with their only loss coming in the comfort of the place they called home.

That was in 2004.

It was such a goal feast even goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini was on target that afternoon.

The reverse fixture, played the previous week, had also produced another goal feast, with the two sides sharing the spoils in a 3-3 draw at Barbourfields.

That game ended prematurely, in the last minute of regulation time, amid crowd trouble, after Leonard Tsipa had converted a penalty for a late equaliser.

Twenty years later, Simba Bhora, a club owned by a man who supports CAPS United, are on the verge of doing one better than Mhaluri’s immortals.

Tonderai Ndiraya’s men are just a few games away from winning the league championship without losing a game at home.

They struggled without a home in their debut season last year as they were forced to host teams in Harare or at Baobab in Ngezi.

Their Wadzanai fortress was approved this season and they have been unbeatable at home so far in the campaign.

They have beaten some of the big boys at Wadzanai – Dynamos, Highlanders and Chicken Inn and no team has found a way to crack their code.

Ironically, if there is a team which could end their impressive home campaign, it could be CAPS United.

The Green Machine will visit Wadzanai soon and it remains to be seen if they will become the first team to defeat Simba Bhora at their fortress this season.

If they do, and Simba Bhora lose just one home match on their way to the title, there will be some who will say it feels like 2004.

Why not?

This year, CAPS United scored the same three goals, against Bosso, which they scored at home in 2004.

The only difference is that back then Bosso scored four and this time they scored two.