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Sports Reporter
They are back in town this Sunday for the third time in 12 matches.
But the two previous trips to the City of Kings have not all been rosy for the golden boys and there certainly has been no conceivable love song for their road-weary fans.
In two previous visits to Bulawayo this season, however, Simba Bhora lost by similar 1-0 score lines to Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs. Fact: Simba Bhora have not scored a goal in Bulawayo this season!
While it is no surprise to find Manica Diamonds, FC Platinum ,Highlanders and Chicken Inn staking their title claims 11 matches into the 2024 Castle Premier Soccer League, few would have expected the name of Simba Bhora to be right up there with them.
Unlike their opponents this Sunday, Chicken Inn, the humble but moneyed Shamva club, whose only season in the top flight football was last year, have won their last two matches, beating defending champions, Ngezi Platinum 2-1 on match day 11 to add to their 2-1 victory over Chegutu Pirates on match day 10.
Yet stuttering performances that yielded two consecutive defeats and a draw appear to vindicate all the wisdom about the importance of stability in football. Both Sunday Chidzambwa and Calisto Pasuwa were in charge for extended periods, as they took Dynamos to multiple titles.
Under Tonderai Ndiraya’s guidance, Simba Bhora now seem to have the ability to recover from a dip in form, which was their major downfall before Ndiraya’s arrival. But they believe! They believe the worst is behind them having come to Bulawayo on the previous two occasions after long, energy-sapping trips across the country.
“But now our players are back at their physical best and we believe our first full set of points in Bulawayo this season will come this Sunday against Chicken Inn,” said a club official.
This season, the arrival of Junior Makunike from Dynamos, Mthokozisi Msebele from Bulawayo Chiefs and Walter Musona from FC Platinum has resulted in much more emphasis on patient distribution.
Without the benefit of Opta, it is still easy to claim that they have been more patient in their build-up attack so far and the number of sequences they have put together exceeding 10 passes have led to goals, which have translated to six victories so far this season.
Online Reporter