Online Reporter
Noel Munzabwa in MANZINI
JOEL Luphahla says their CAF Champions League defeat could either make or break the defence of their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League crown.
The Shamva side crashed out of Africa’s premier knockout tournament at he first hurdle after losing to Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs on penalties on Sunday.
The match ended 1-1 on aggregate, after the hosts scored a last-gasp goal, to send the game into penalties. Luphahla said:
“I don’t want to lie, we are heartbroken, the players are affected by this result and we will need to rise from these ashes strongly to defend the league title.
“We will speak to the players who, according to me, are pretty young with an average age of between 20 and 24.
“We really wanted to get a taste of football at continental level and we will build on the lessons learnt to return to this level again.
“We know how much we have let the nation down and that disappointment should inspire us to do better in future.”
The Zimbabwe champions headed home yesterday morning where they would be expected to focus on the domestic league.
Former Malawi national team coach, Meck Mwase, says Simba Bhora have themselves to blame for losing to Nsingizini Hotspurs at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday.
The 2-4 penalty defeat to the Eswatini champions, after a late Nkhosingiphile Shongwe aggregate levelling ng strike, saw the Joel Luphahla-coached outfit bow out of the CAF Champions League.
have set up a next round tie against Simba of Tanzania. While Luphahla blamed it on fatigue Mwase, the Moneni Pirates coach, said the Zimbabwe outfit’s backline sat too deep.
“Simba Bhora defenders sat too deep in their box during attacking phases and there was no link with the offensive players.
“The other thing, sitting back too deep at the back, attracted Nsingizini Hotspurs to openly come at them leading to the last-minute cracking under pressure.”
Mwase also praised goalkeeper William Thole for minimising the damage.
He said Nsingizini Hotspurs were always going to be unforgiving in their attack given that they had nothing to lose and were duly rewarded. Indeed, young players like Quality Dlamini gave the Simba Bhora players a torrid time.
Fan favourite, Sambulo Masoso Mavuso, added venom upfront when he was thrown into the match.
Former Njube Sundowns player, Stanford Ncube said the bulk of Simba Bhora players lacked the fighting spirit unexpected of Zimbabwean footballers.
“The players didn’t assert themselves in the game, there was no fight in them.
“They just didn’t come to the party at all. One wouldn’t blame the coaches for that but this was not expected of Zimbabwean football,” said Ncube.
