Simba Bhora deflect pressure

Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub

AS the clock ticked down towards the eagerly-anticipated resumption of domestic football this afternoon, defending champions Simba Bhora say they are feeling the pressure the same way as their hosts Dynamos, who are still searching for a Castle Lager Premiership winning formula this season.

The champions and the former champions clash at Rufaro tomorrow.

DeMbare are notorious slow starters and the outlook is so far not good for them after going three games without picking maximum points.

The path is also still not clear for the Shamva side, who began the defence of their title in a slow manner following a run of two draws and one win.

Now under the tutelage of former Dynamos assistant coach Joel Luphahla, the champions are keen for a quick turnaround to catch up with the early pacesetters.

Simba Bhora and Dynamos will only play after most of the teams in the race have played, in fixtures set for this afternoon, which could mean the gap between the Shamva side and the top team could be stretched to five points, while DeMbare could have dropped to the bottom four by the time they play tomorrow.

This being the second time to meet, having featured in the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup, which DeMbare won on penalties, Luphahla and his former mentor Lloyd Chigowe will try to take advantage of each other’s weaknesses in this must-win game either coach.

“The match versus Dynamos on Sunday is a very difficult game,” said Lupahla.

“Psychologically, we need to be up there because we lost the first game when we played the Castle Cup.

“So, for now, we are going there again to Rufaro to try and make sure that we get the three points that the club needs. It’s not easy going to play at their home ground. It’s very difficult when you face them.

“They are under pressure. We are also under pressure. The pressure is immense because we are the defending champions. So, we want to try and make sure that we negotiate our way past them.”

Despite their slow start, Simba Bhora are two points behind surprise log leaders who have a date with former champions FC Platinum this afternoon at Mandava.

Having started off with identical goalless draws against FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba and then winning 1-0 against Herentals, Luphahla is unsure how the FIFA break has affected his players.

“We would have preferred to have played (Dynamos) last week soon after playing Herentals. But because of the break that has been there, it’s always difficult to pick up yourself after the break.

“But we are trying. We are trying our best. We are working extra hard to make sure that the boys give a good outing. But at the end of the day, it is about three points. And we are hoping that the Gods will favour us,” said Luphahla.

Simba Bhora are likely to field recent ex-DeMbare duo of Donald Mudadi and Emmanuel Ziocha against their former paymasters. The champions, although they lost a number of the championship winning players during the pre-season, still have some exciting talents, who include ex-CAPS United hitman William Manondo and Blessed Ndereki lured from Yadah Stars.

On paper, odds favour Simba Bhora, who have not lost a league game to DeMbare since they got promoted in 2023. In four, meetings they have won one and three ended in draws.

DeMbare started off the season in the mood for draws, but their fans are increasingly growing weary, especially when watching flashy newboys like Scottland dominating opponents at their shared Rufaro fortress.

The Glamour Boys have been reduced to a shadow of their former self and are currently sitting in 13th position after three rounds of play.

DeMbare vice captain Shadreck Nyahwa, however, has refused to bury his head in the sand under the weight of expectations.

“What I can say is that we have been preparing well. We played against Simba in the Challenge Cup early this season and won.

“Of course, it’s pressure on us so that we can get maximum points. Yes, playing at home is a pressure, but we will try our best. They are a good side,’’ Nyahwa said.

“As you know, the fans want us to win all the games, but sometimes it’s difficult. We can’t get three points in every game, but we try our best to get maximum points in every game. Sometimes it’s a draw.

“For the fans, we know it will be painful but all I can say is that we will keep on working hard,” said Nyahwa.

Nevertheless, the biggest challenge with Dynamos is they have not been scoring goals. It will be a clash between a team with the best defence and one with one of the most impotent attack in the league.

DeMbare have scored just once – via an own goal – in at least 270 minutes of league action.

Similarly, Simba Bhora have also scored once, against Herentals, but unlike DeMbare, they are yet to concede.

“We have worked hard and we are going to do our best in the league. I know we haven’t been scoring, but we have been working hard and we need to capitalise on our scoring opportunities so that we can get maximum points.

“The guys are working hard against Simba and trying our best to score and play well. We have been playing well, but we were not scoring. We haven’t lost any game,” said Nyahwa.

Luphahla is also worried by the poor conversion rate by his side. Simba Bhora are struggling to find the proper replacement to their gunslingers Tymon Machope and Walter Musona, who scored a combined 22 goals to help them land the club’s maiden title, before moving to newboys Scottland at the beginning of the season.

“We are not really happy in terms of our return rate upfront. But we are still trying to work as a team because scoring is not only for strikers, it is for the whole team.

“It is for defenders, the midfielders and the offensive players to work hard so that we can get the goals. But after all, goals can win you games but the defence can win you titles.”

Fixtures:

Today: TelOne v CAPS United (Ascot), Bikita Minerals v GreenFuel (Sakubva), Yadah Stars v Kwekwe United (Heart), FC Platinum v MWOS (Mandava), ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga), Herentals v Manica Diamonds (Rufaro)

Tomorrow: Highlanders v Scottland (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Simba Bhora (Rufaro)