daniel chigunwe
Sports Reporter
IT was the first game in which Simba Bhora failed to score in three months but the big point they gained at Baobab on Saturday might just have been the one that sealed their maiden league championship title.
Tonderai Ndiraya’s men had scored in each of their league matches since they fired blanks in a 0-1 defeat at the hands of FC Platinum at Mandava on June 22. The trip to Baobab was always going to be their toughest away assignment in their remaining matches.
It was a massive test and Simba produced a professional performance to ensure they picked the point they wanted, in the worst case scenario.
The statistics will show that FC Platinum gained two points on Simba Bhora, after their victory over Highlanders at Mandava, but the truth is that Ndiraya’s men probably picked their biggest away point this season.
In the week in which their integrity was questioned, after the circus which marred their abandoned Chibuku Super Cup showdown against Bosso, Simba Bhora needed to respond.
There were claims that Simba Bhora have been receiving a helping hand from referees, especially at their Wadzanai fortress in SWhamva, where they are unbeaten all season.
It was therefore important that Simba Bhora should respond, in an away game against the champions, to show that they play the football which can also get them big points in such away assignments.
And, that’s what they did with a performance which blunted the Ngezi strike force and left them with a comfortable lead in the championship race, with just six games to go.
The importance of this result was that they also ensured the champions dropped two big points at home.
In the remaining games, both their toughest assignments — against CAPS United and FC Platinum — are at their fortress at Wadzanai.
This is a stadium where both Dynamos and Highlanders have lost their league matches this season.
Chicken Inn are also coming to Wadzanai, in Simba Bhora’s next assignment.
The away games are against Herentals, Arenel and ZPC Kariba.
A glimpse of the last five games, for the leading trio, shows why Ndiraya’s men and their fans have the best chance to win the league title.
They have won four and drawn one of their last five games, taking 13 out of a possible 15 points.
FC Platinum have won one of their last five league matches, drawing two and losing two. Ngezi Platinum have won just one of their last five games and drawn the other four.
Online Reporter