Simba Bhora invade CAPS Utd camp

Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

CASTLE Lager Premiership debutants Simba Bhora pulled another big move after luring industrious midfielder Tichaona Chipunza to Shamva ahead of their maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign that gets underway this week. 

Chipunza, who spent the last six months of the year at Harare giants CAPS United last season, has since put pen to paper after agreeing terms with the ambitious newboys. 

He moved as a free agent after his contract at Makepekepe ran out at the end of last season. 

The Harare giants had not engaged him for the extension of his services and Simba Bhora pounced on the opportunity. 

The midfielder had been part of the Makepekepe squad conducting their pre-season in Harare but following the latest developments, he was expected to start training with Simba Bhora yesterday. 

Simba Bhora spokesperson, Charles Nyatsine, yesterday said he was not in a position to speak on the latest development as he was yet to get a briefing from his superiors. 

However, insiders said Chipunza signed on the dotted line on Sunday. 

“Everything is done and dusted. His contract with CAPS United expired last year and he has been waiting on them but nothing happened. So he is going to Simba Bhora,” said the source.

The gritty 28-year-old holding midfielder, who also had a stint in the fringes of the national team, is expected to bring with him a wealth of experience garnered with different clubs in a decade of professional football. 

Chipunza made his break in the domestic Premiership football as a raw teenager in 2013 with Triangle United where he acquitted himself well for three seasons. 

The DC Academy graduate then moved to Dynamos in 2016 where he played in the shadows of veteran Stephe Alimenda. But following the departure of the veteran midfielder, he stepped into the holding role with aplomb and was one of the outstanding players at DeMbare in 2017. 

He, however, would not stay beyond the 2017 season despite being voted the Glamour Boys’ Players’ Player of the Year as well as the Most Consistent Player after making 33 appearances and missing only one game the whole term.

But following the expiry of his contract, he resurfaced at Ngezi Platinum in 2018 and the following season he was at Chicken Inn where the club’s coach Joey Antipas felt he was unfortunate not to make the Soccer Star of the Year finalists. 

Chipunza finished with silver medals in the league marathon for three consecutive seasons with Dynamos, Ngezi Platinum Stars and at Chicken Inn, with FC Platinum dominating the competitions. 

Then after the Covid-19 disruptions, he then went on to play in Zambia after catching the eye of the country’s Super League side Nkana FC.

Upon his return home, he signed for CAPS United in June last year but stayed in the peripheries despite the side struggling to survive relegation. 

Makepekepe have been rebuilding but they were quiet with regards to Chipunza and the player decided to reunite with his former coach at Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars Tonderai Ndiraya, who is now in charge of Simba Bhora. 

The newboys have also flexed their muscles with the acquisition of players such as former Zimbabwe international Talent Chawapihwa, ex-Dynamos captain Partson Jaure, Blessing Moyo, Keith Murera, ex-CAPS United man Valentine Musarurwa, Hugh Chikosa, who was at Bulawayo Chiefs last season, former ZC Kariba attacker Vassili Kawe and Young Warriors teenage forward Alex Mandinyenya, who joined from relegated Harare City. 

Of late, Simba Bhora have been avoiding commenting officially on new players. The club is understood to be setting up a media event tomorrow when they are looking forward to unveil their full team including members of the technical department and all the new signings.

The club has also retained experienced players with PSL experience that helped them win promotion from the ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League last season. These include former DeMbare and CAPS United players like Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, defender Webster Tafa, goalkeeper Simbarashe Chinani and Tinashe Balakasi, who scored a record 29 goals in the second-tier league to help Simba Bhora achieve their ambition of bringing topflight football to Shamva for the first time.