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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
PUTTING on the captaincy armband has never been an easy task for ambitious Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side, Simba Bhora skipper Walter Musona.
The Shamva-based side’s celebrated star revealed the agony of being handed the leadership in a community with its expectations of an ideal person they wish to see lead the team.
On the other hand, Simba Bhora are determined to win the championship at all costs.
Musona joined Simba Bhora during the off-season after parting ways with former Zimbabwe champions, FC Platinum.
The 2022 Soccer Star of the Year was part of the over 10 new signings that the club introduced early this year which included Junior Makunike, Mthokozisi Msebe, Malvin Mkolo, Billy Veremu, Gift Saunyama, Perfect Chikwende, and Goalkeepers Talbert Shumba and Taimon Mvula. And just when he arrived, the technically gifted forward was handed the armband, taking over from veteran PSL star Partson Jaure.
Sadly, Musona never had the luxury of celebrating his rise to one of the most desirable positions in football, to lead an elite team on the field of play with great honour.
The Zimbabwean forward talk Zimpapers Sports through some of his experiences with the Shamva community.
“It is not easy to come to a “closed” community, in the first days they made it apparent that we were outsiders and that the only way we could win them over was to give them good football and results,” recalls Musona.
“The leadership role was a gigantic task, especially being handed the armband from a player whom I now had to lead.
“At first it was tough for me to command the seniors and charm the community at the same time but we had to come together as a team and agree on unity of purpose . . . life became easier.”
Musona had to dig deep into his leadership reservoirs to navigate the pressure from the community. In Simba’s quest to achieve a top-four league finish this season, Musona has been instrumental in handing the Shamva side the goals in crucial games, especially at their fortress Wadzanai.
Currently, he has five goals to his name, two behind chart leaders Lynoth Chikuhwa of Highlanders, Caps United’s William Manondo, and Evans Katema (Bikita Minerals).
Leaving impressions with his consistent performances, the free-kick specialist was also part of the senior men’s national team that recently did duty at the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa.
“The armband keeps you on your toes, the Wadzanai community hates defeat so every day, I have to step up and be there for the boys on and off the pitch,” he said.
“Coming here, from another mining community (Zvishavane), I had a bit of understanding of how such communities function, it is a huge test of character but I am used to it now.”
Simba are fresh from a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat at the hands of the skipper’s former paymasters, FC Platinum at Mandava.
Musona had to quickly step up, motivate his charges, and shift focus to this week’s task as they host ZPC Kariba.
Simba currently sits on position four on the log standings with 27 points and an inferior goal difference to Ngezi who are a position above them (Simba) with an equal number of points. On the other hand, ZPC Kariba are number 13 with 19 points to their name.
Refusing to be charmed by the log standings, Musona understands that this will not be an easy task for them.
Last season when the two sides met, ZPC overpowered Ndiraya’s boys 2-1 before securing a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.
“Sometimes stepping up in difficult times is not easy but I believe I am handling it well,” he said.
“I have to keep on making them have faith that we can do it and as well make the community believe in us.
“Simba has passionate fans and every day, we have to make them believe we can do it.
“ . . . we want to go to mid-season with maximum points to our name so that when we come back, we have a good starting point.”
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