Online Reporter
Bruce Chikuni
Sports Reporter
SIMBA BHORA vice-captain, Webster Tafa, will play his 100th Castle Lager Premiership game IN A ROW for the club when they host Highlanders at Wadzanai on Saturday.
Tafa is not the first to hit this milestone in the league but he is definitely the only player who has played 99 matches in a row.
The gritty central defender has never missed a match for the club since their introduction in the Premiership.
Only the football gods are in a position to explain how he has dodged injuries and suspensions during this great run.
He has four more appearances in the Chibuku Super Cup, a Castle Challenge Cup outing and two CAF Champions League caps.
Tafa hails from Bindura and has written himself into the club books that had Tinashe Balakasi who is considered responsible for Simba Bhora’s success by many in Shamva.
Tafa has been ever present for the club and the conversation could have been different if Simba Bhora had maintained their grip in the championship race.
Simba Bhora are six points behind leaders Scottland and only a miracle can help their cause in the last three games of the campaign.
The champions have a chance to land the Golden Glove award which is for William Thole to lose.
He has managed 15 clean sheets and his understudy, Tonderai Mateyaunga, has recorded one to make them 16.
Tafa has been largely responsible for their impressive defensive record as he has formed a formidable partnership with Isheanesu Mauchi.
He joined Simba Bhora when they were still battling for a PSL slot in the ZIFA Northen Region Division One Soccer League in the 2022 campaign.
Veteran coach, Arthur Tutani, signed him from CAPS United and he instantly formed a good partnership with Brighton Tuwaya as they booked their PSL ticket.
Tonderai Ndiraya also made Tafa his main man in the heart of his defence during his two-year stay in Shamva. Joel Luphahla also felt that Tutani and Ndiraya were justified as he has played Tafa in every game this season.
Tafa told H-Metro that he is determined to make his 100th top-flight league match memorable.
“It’s a great milestone for me and everyone who has supported me at this club,” said Tafa.
“We really need to get a positive result against Highlanders for this game to have a better meaning to me.
‘‘It is very unfortunate for us that destiny is no longer in our hands in the championship race but we just have to win our remaining games and see what happens.
“I want to urge our fans who have been supportive to keep believing. They must not lose hope and we really appreciate their support.”
Mathew Masinge