Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIMBA Bhora coach Joel Luphahla is disappointed by their CAF Champions League preliminary round exit, describing their performance as below the expected standards.
The Castle Lager Premiership champions lost 1-0 away to Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs, resulting in a 1-1 aggregate score-line that forced the match into penalties. They eventually lost 4-2.
Blessing Moyo and Tapiwa Mandinyenya saw their efforts balloon over the bar, giving advantage to the opponent in the penalties.
This was Simba Bhora’s debut appearance in the CAF Champions League, while Luphahla was also leading the team for the first time as head coach in the competition.
Luphahla opened up to Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday, reflecting on the preliminary round exit.
“We didn’t have a good outing,” said Joel Luphahla. “It’s disappointing, but the boys gave their all.”
Simba Bhora played the first leg in Botswana and then the second leg in Eswatini where their opponents enjoyed home support.
Despite that disadvantage, the coach shouldered responsibility.
“It’s okay, it’s football. It’s my first season, It was bound to happen that I would make a lot of errors or come short here and there,” Luphahla said.
Rather than making excuses, he pointed to the defeat as a crucial and painful lesson.
“Experience is the best teacher,” he said.
Simba Bhora will now shift focus to the title race.
They face struggling CAPS United in a match they must win to try and regain top position after Scottland replaced them at the top.
Although they have a game in hand, Simba Bhora are aware the remaining matches will be tough.
Simba Bhora have a game in hand against Triangle a team also fighting relegation.
