Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Yadah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)1
CHAMPIONS Simba Bhora have activated the beast mode and it was on full display when they pinned down Yadah at the Heart Stadium yesterday to go top of the Castle Lager Premiership log standings.
Captain Blessing “Bisto” Moyo settled the affair with a rifled free-kick right at the hour mark.
With MWOS’ bubble finally bursting after a 3-1 defeat to Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab, Simba Bhora took maximum advantage, taking their tally to 35 points, one above the Punters.
The win ensured the champions completed the first half of the season in control of proceedings just as they did last term. Yet yesterday’s win never arrived on a silver platter.
Yadah, fully aware of the delicate place they occupy down the ladder, threw in some huge punches and in hindsight they could have rescued a point.
But their guests meant business and there was no doubting their superiority right from the first whistle.
Just 14 minutes into the encounter, Junior Makunike found himself face-to-face with Yadah goalkeeper Tymon Mvula but somehow he shot straight at his former Simba Bhora teammate.
It was a golden chance to put Simba Bhora ahead after Makunike had received a perfect pass from the impressive Isaka Gurirab. The visitors were almost made to pay for that but Innocent Mucheneka’s low free-kick was deflected wide two minutes later.
With play concentrated in the midfield, Yadah’s Thomas Chideu out-sprinted the Simba Bhora defence to a loose ball but took too long to fire, allowing the opponents to recover.
Simba Bhora’s half-time pep talk seemed to trigger them into urgency and 10 minutes after the resumption, Mvula had to fly full stretch to tip over a stinging Emmanuel Ziocha volley.
But the former Dynamos goalkeeper couldn’t do anything when Moyo unleashed his free-kick from just outside the D area five minutes later.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla wasn’t with the team two days prior to the game as he was part of the Zimbabwe Legends team that played in Botswana on Saturday.
And he revealed he had some fears the team would collapse against an inspired Yadah team.
“The players told me they would put their bodies on the line for me,” said Luphahla.
“And they did just that. It was a very difficult game. Yadah played very good football and I am happy we managed to win.
“I am only learning from you that we are now on top of the standings.
“It’s really good and we need to keep on working hard the way we did today.”
His opposite number Takaendesa Jongwe, lamented his team’s lack of a cutting edge against “a very good side that plays a good brand of football.”
Teams:
Yadah: Taimon Mvula, Emmanuel Chitauro, Migoz Svinurai, Anotidaishe Gwatidzo (Evans Rusike 56min),Thomas Chideu (Francis Mustafa 56min), Innocent Muchaneka, Marvellous Faranando (Ryan Ncube 83min), Ariel Makopa, Mandlenkosi Mlilo, Sonny Mewali,l (Vincent Sango 78min), Takunda Vareta
Simba Bhora: William Thole, Webster Tafa, Isheanesu Mauchi, Barnabas Mtuche, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Mavhurume (Carlos Mukumbira 87min), Butholezwe Ncube (Blessed Ndereki 81min), Ishmael Nyanhi, Emmanuel Ziocha (Trevor Mavhunga 87min), Isakar Gurirab, Junior Makunike (Donald Mudadi 56min)
