Schoolboy sinks Simba Bhora

Bruce Chikuni

O’LEVEL student, Leon Daka’s late strike was enough for Cranborne Bullets to down Simba Bhora in their 1-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Daka is presently doing his ‘O’ Level at Hope Academy in Mbare.

Cranborne Bullets went into this match on the back of four losses and moved off the bottom of the standings at least for a day.

The 17-year-old’ introduction in the 78th minute turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered as he made instant impact giving Simba Bhora’s defence a torrid time with his fine dribbles and pace.

It took him just eight minutes to find the target.

Albert Manenji nearly restored parity for Simba Bhora at the stroke of full time but his stunning attempt was well handled by goalie, Victor Jabangwe.

Daka was thrilled by his contribution in this fixture and he conceded that he was not expecting to be on the score-sheet.

“I’m really excited and I was not expecting to make the difference today.

“I’m grateful to our coach Saruchera for believing in me and I’m going to try my best to deliver each time I get the chance.

“It feels good to get your goal in PSL knowing that your friends at school are waiting to celebrate it with you, they are always pushing me to do better,” said Daka.

Simba Bhora coach, Tonderai Ndiraya was disappointed man and attributed their loss to what he termed in-house problems, which he feels might have weighed heavily on his players.

“We have some family issues and I’m very disappointed that they have cost us this match, they (in-house problems) did lead to our unusual performance and it is something which must be corrected.

“We are going to keep our heads up and I think we need at least 35 to 40 points to survive relegation,” said Ndiraya.

Latest Standings

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HIGHLANDERS 23 12 8 3 18 9 44

MANICA DIAMONDS 24 12 6 6 31 15 42

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DYNAMOS 23 10 9 4 27 10 39

CHICKEN INN 24 9 11 4 24 17 38

HERENTALS 24 9 8 7 26 24 35

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