Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda and Noel Munzabwa
IT has been a “back and forth” week for Simba Bhora, who are bracing for today’s TotalEnergies CAF Champions League first preliminary round second leg fixture against Nsingisi at Somhlolo in Eswatini.
Kick-off is 3pm.
The Zimbabwean champions just need to avoid defeat for them to progress to the next round, where either Gaborone United of Botswana or Simba SC of Tanzania await.
Gaborone United and Simba SC also play today, with the Tanzanian outfit having won the first leg 1-0.
Like Simba SC, Go Buju Go carry a 1-0 lead from last Sunday’s first leg tie against Nsingisi in Francistown, Botswana.
After that match, Simba Bhora had the luxury of camping for two days in Gaborone, courtesy of Premiership side Black Lions, who are owned by Zimbabwean businessman Tendani Sebata.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla now believes his boys are good to go.
“The stay in Gaborone was good,” he said.
“I think the facilities really helped us to shape what we wanted to try to do.”
Although the team travelled a lot, since Zimbabwe do not have a CAF-certified stadium, Luphahla is confident his charges can still finish the job at Somhlolo this afternoon.
“We used that lengthy time we had in Gaborone to really prepare the boys,” he said. “I think for now, the most important thing is to prepare the mindset and mentality of the boys.
“They need to be sharp mentally, they need to be strong, so this is what we were working on.
“The boys have to be confident, we have to get them going.
“We are playing away obviously, so we need to be strong, but I think the boys are good to go.”
The fast-rising gaffer is taking charge of his first CAF Champions League assignment.
Simba Bhora are also on their maiden campaign, after making history by becoming the first team from Mashonaland Central to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship last season.
They scored their first ever Champions League goal through Ishmael Nyanhi, when they edged Nsingisi.
The Zimbabwean champions will bank on their strong defence line, which comprises the usual trio of Isheanesu Mauchi, Webster Tafa and Blessing Moyo.
In Malawian keeper, William Thole, Simba Bhora have a safe pair of hands.
Thole, who also plays for Malawi’s senior team, the Flames, has managed 15 clean sheets in the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
Luphahla can also look up to the likes of Junior Makunike and Emmanuel Ziocha, who is having a stellar season at the Shamva side.
Such is Simba Bhora’s depth that they can also summon the services of reliable players like Never Tigere, Donald Mudadi and Blessed Ndereki.
While striker Nyanhi proved the wonder man at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium against Nsingisi in Francistown with the biblical Ishmaelite- like 60th minute header, which gave Simba Bhora the advantage, the hosts have three forwards on whom much of their hopes lie.
Hotspurs, who have kept a tight lid on their preparations and are looking to the attacking trio of Sambulo Masoso Simelane, Neliswa Tiger Dlamini and Yekisizwe Khumalo, can be unplayable on a good day.
Club public relations officer Mnotfo Dlamini, who has been designated to handle much of the off-field discussion ahead of the match, acknowledged that the Swazi side, while expecting anyone in the team to deliver, would rely on the trio of Neliswa Dlamini, Simelane and Khumalo to inspire them to an upset win over Simba Bhora.
“Anyone between Masoso, Tiger or Yeki will prove the wonder man on Sunday (today) but what I can say is that liwawubhoma lidaladi (the fence will burst) on Sunday,” said Dlamini.
“Things will turn. They beat us 1-0 in Botswana and we will be playing the second leg.
“It’s not going to be an easy game, with the players itching for this one. The coaches will come up with the best possible team to play for the Swazi nation, club leadership, fans and indeed for themselves.
“The supporters will be there to carry the club from the terraces, the leadership is looking forward to a good result, we did promise them that we will grind the best result for them.
“Overall, the entire Nsingisi Hotspurs are going to be men of wonders. We promise the nation progress to the next round.”
But for Luphahla and the Simba Bhora family, their ambitions go beyond the two preliminary rounds.
The Zimbabwe champions have cast their eye on a place in the more lucrative and yet tougher group stage of Africa’s biggest inter-club where only a few local clubs such as Dynamos, CAPS United and FC Platinum have previously reached.
