Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
JOEL Luphahla is not going to sit on his laurels as champions Simba Bhora look to cement their place at the top after opening a three-point gap at the weekend.
The Shamva side opened a three-point gap at the top over the weekend following the 1-0 home win over Dynamos, but they have a real test in their hands tomorrow when they travel to Gweru to face unpredictable TelOne at Bata.
Their cause was aided by the slip-up of their nearest rivals in the championship race, MWOS who lost their second match on the bounce to hand Luphahla’s men some breathing space at the top.
But the former Zimbabwe international sounded a bit apprehensive ahead of the trip as they face a side that is on a seven-match unbeaten run. He said the win over Dynamos, thanks to an 87th minute strike from Junior Makunike was key in boosting the morale of his charges.
“It prepares us better for the next game that we are going to play, which I think is going to be very difficult. Going to Gweru to TelOne they play good football also,” said Luphahla.
Simba Bhora lead the race with 43 points, three ahead of MWOS, who suffered defeat at home for the first time fol-lowing the 0-2 thumping by FC Platinum at Ngoni on Saturday.
The championship race looks interesting as contenders like Scottland, TelOne, Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum appear to be closing in, with 13 games still to be played in the campaign.
“We want to focus on our own race. We try to close our ears on what’s happening at the other clubs.
“We are three points at the top and that’s pressure. When you go on top, there’s always pressure because anybody who plays versus you, and the fact that we are the defending champions, makes it difficult.
“But it’s a little bit of a breather. You can breathe, but there’s no time because Wednesday (tomorrow) we are playing again,” said Luphahla.
Luphahla, who is in his first season as head coach of a top-flight club, is excited by the performances of his team so far after stitching together 12 wins, seven draws and only two defeats in 21 outings.
Simba Bhora are also the most prolific team in the league with 27 goals, but Luphahla is a bit concerned by the continued missed chances to win games more convincingly of late.
“We are happy that we’re at the summit but we need to work hard, we need to do better. We need to convert the chances we create, good chances of which even in the first half and second half (against Dynamos) we could have buried the chances.
“But at the end of the day I’m happy that these boys they don’t give up. They do not give up. Last week you saw this (in the comeback 3-2 win) versus Herentals.
“They do not give up. You can count on them to come through for you and I’m happy that they came through for the fans (with an 87th minute goal against Dynamos),” said Luphahla.
MWOS, despite the defeat to FC Platinum are still strongly in contention but the quality of their depth in comparison to competition, has been doubted.
They recently added midfielder Abubakar Moffat, who has been playing in Spanish lower divisions since 2018, and striker Innocent Masiiwa who is returning from a loan stint at Bikita Minerals where he was the club’s top scorer with half a dozen goals.
Third-placed Scottland reduced the gap between them and log leaders Simba Bhora to six points following the 2-1 win over Highlanders on Sunday.
They had received a boost ahead of the game after the PSL Disciplinary Committee awarded them maximum points following the determination of the abandoned game against Chicken Inn.
Scottland are now on 37 points, three ahead of nearest rivals TelOne who played a goalless draw against CAPS Unit-ed at the weekend, to remain unbeaten in seven outings. Scottland will travel to Gibbo to face Bikita Minerals on Thursday while TelOne host Simba Bhora tomorrow.
