Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi and Trust Khosa
FORMER champions Simba Bhora have maintained that the departure of five key players to close Castle Lager Premiership rivals is a pure business decision as concerns mounted yesterday over the stability of the squad ahead of the new season.
The 2024 champions will have to rebuild again for the 2026 season in much the same way as they did last year after losing coach Tonderai Ndiraya and a host of players who jumped ship and joined Scottland.
However, the club’s supporters and football pundits alike were left with big questions after Simba Bhora announced the departures, headlined by Soccer Star of the Year bronze medallist Emmanuel Ziocha.
The Shamva outfit also announced that influential Namibian forward Isaskar Gurirab and Ziocha have joined rivals Scottland for undisclosed fees.
The club also accepted offers from the newly-promoted side Hardrock for the transfers of the trio of Donald Mudadi, Junior Makunike and Boid Mutukure, in a development that left their stakeholders perplexed and led to a social media storm.
There was growing speculation the Simba Bhora owners are no longer interested in football after the club found the going tough at the backend of the 2025 season, where they also had to deal with the high costs of participating in the CAF Champions League.
However, the club’s owner and president, Simba Ndoro yesterday moved to quell speculation and explained the motive behind the transfers and reassured the club’s fans not to panic as the new season approaches.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub, Ndoro said he firmly believes that football is now a business where clubs should benefit from selling players.
“I have seen several posts online about fans suggesting that we are no longer interested in football, which is all wrong,” Ndoro said.
“These players did not leave for free, as many people may think, but we are doing good business on the market.
“Running a soccer club is not that rosy, as we are made to fork out a lot of money to sustain our operations.
“For your information, a club gets US$100 000 (for winning the league title), which is a far cry from the money we use to run our clubs and pay our workforce in a season.”
Simba Bhora were promoted in 2023 and lifted the title the following season, in a historic feat as they became the first team from Mashonaland Central province to win the top-flight championship.
The Shamva side won the league title in 2024 under Ndiraya but finished third last year with a new coach Joel Luphahla at the helm.
Many would have expected them to rebuild their team around their top performers so that they could be able to challenge for the honours again in the 2026 season.
Instead, the transfers have been interpreted as debilitating to the side.
Simba Bhora are also understood to be on the verge of losing defender Isheanesu Mauchi, who is reportedly being stalked by rival clubs.
Apart from parting ways with the core players, Simba Bhora also lost coach Luphahla and three members of his technical team to FC Platinum in a move that is likely to shake the club.
They have since appointed Mandla Mpofu as head coach. He will be assisted by Philani Mabhena, with former Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro coming in as goalkeepers’ coach and ex-Black Rhinos defender Brighton Chandisaita as the strength and conditioning coach. But Ndoro maintained their decision on the players was meant to help the club recoup operational costs, since football is a capital-intensive venture in Zimbabwe.
“We are trying to recover the expenses we incurred, and I can assure fans and stakeholders that we will be back stronger.
“Last year, we lost 11 players, including our Soccer Star of the Year at that time, but we still managed to finish third. I urge fans not to press the panic button because we know what we are doing.”
Last year, Simba Bhora also lost the core of the championship-winning side that included former captain and Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, their top scorer Tymon Machope, Mthokozisi Msebe, Tichaona Chipunza, Vassilli Kawe, and goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, as well as coach Ndiraya to Scottland.
This inevitably affected their depth and level of competition in 2025, relinquishing the title to Scottland. But Ndoro has remained upbeat that Simba Bhora will perform strongly in the upcoming season.
“I know that some fans are in panic mode, but I can assure fans that a top four finish is guaranteed. Zimbabwe has a lot of talent, and fans should not panic,” he emphasised.
“I don’t know why people are concerned because last year we lost some of our finest stars, including Walter Musona and Tymon Machope, which many felt was a huge loss, but we still managed to make an impact.
“I had several players on the Soccer Star of the Year Calendar, and our goalie made an impression too. This alone shows we are a good side, and nothing will ever stop us,” Ndoro said.
