Simba Bhora’s CAF gamble: glory or financial Ruin?

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

IN a season where Simba Bhora should be riding high, plotting their debut in Africa’s elite football tournament, the newly crowned Premiership champions instead find themselves teetering on the edge of a logistical and financial crisis.

With their maiden appearance in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League on the horizon, Simba Bhora should be deep in preparation, refining tactics, securing logistics, and rallying support. The venues have been identified, and the groundwork laid.

But until late Wednesday, the club was seriously considering pulling out of the tournament altogether.

The root of the dilemma? Zimbabwe’s ongoing stadium crisis.

Club owner Simba Ndoro didn’t mince his words: “We are in a fix so we had initially decided not to participate because hosting our games out of Zimbabwe is costly,” he said.

“Hosting our games locally would allow us to at least get something in return, but if we are to host beyond borders, it is a fact that we will not get anything, so there is no return on the investment.”

Zimbabwe has been locked out of hosting international football for nearly three years after FIFA and CAF condemned all major stadiums in the country for failing to meet international standards. Since then, both national and club teams have been forced to play their “home” matches in foreign territories.

National Sports Stadium, Rufaro, and Barbourfields were all blacklisted. While renovations have begun, most notably the installation of bucket seats at the National Sports Stadium, the facilities still fall short of CAF’s requirements. Issues like water reticulation, electronic screens, proper floodlighting, and modern media areas remain unresolved. This has left clubs like Simba Bhora with an unenviable choice: play their home games abroad at significant cost, or miss out entirely on Africa’s premier club competition. Last season, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos had to host their CAF and Confederation Cup matches in neighbouring countries. Simba Bhora now faces the same predicament.

“Having finally decided to participate, now we are trying to compare Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa to see which one is relatively cheaper for us to host our games,” Ndoro said.

“It will not be easy for us; the financial burden is too much. So we are extending our begging bowl to mobilize funds for the campaign.”

Despite government involvement in the renovations, progress has been sluggish. A recent inspection of the National Sports Stadium by Presidential Special Advisor Joram Gumbo, Sports Minister Anselem Sanyatwe, and Harare Provincial Minister Charles Tavengwa revealed partial improvements but also glaring shortcomings. While bucket seats have been installed, key infrastructure remains incomplete. ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi confirmed efforts are underway to bring the stadium up to standard.

“The Warriors’ next match, the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, are in September and our aim is to play at home,” he said.

“We are obviously grateful to the Government for the support. The bucket seats are now in place through joint efforts with private partners. However, more still needs to be done, and we are working to ensure that the pitch is ready by then.”