THANK YOU, SAYS NDORO

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

SIMBA Bhora president, Simba Ndoro, says the massive support they have been given by Zimbabweans will propel them to work even harder in the CAF Champions League.

The Shamva club begin their quest to try and conquer the continent with a Preliminary round challenge match against Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs in Botswana this weekend.

The Zimbabweans host their opponents at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on Sunday before they travel to Mbabane’s Somhlolo Stadium for the return fixture, a week later.

Debuting at this level of the game, Joel Luphahla’s men haven’t been left to look up to Ndoro alone with Zimbabwean businessmen lending them a huge helping hand.

Kwekwe businessman Shepherd Chahwanda, who constructed the 10,000-seater Chahwanda Stadium has handed the champions US$5,000 while MWOS FC director Patrick Tamson has provided two buses to ferry fans to Botswana.

And yesterday, Betterbrands availed US$100,000 and pledged winning bonuses for the two-legged tie.

A significant number of Scottland supporters are also expected to join hands with their Simba Bhora counterparts in Botswana.

Given that tthe Simba Bhora versus Nsingizini Hotspurs will only start at 8pm on Sunday, the Scottland fans will have enough time to cover the 2hr drive journey to Francistown from Bulawayo where the Scotts will play Bosso in a Chibuku Super Cup match.

“It’s not every day that you get to see a lot of individuals and companies coming on board to support your cause,” said Ndoro.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have seen quite a number of people coming to support Simba Bhora the way they are doing ahead of the CAF Champions League.

“Yes, we are going to Botswana as Zimbabwe’s representatives but I have been shocked with the massive support we are getting from everywhere.

“I would like to salute them all, Pedzai ‘Scott’ Sakupwanya, Patrick Tamson and Shepherd Chahwanda.

“I have been receiving calls from everywhere, including beyond the country’s borders, with people offering their support. That is keeping us going. We will not disappoint the nation.”

While most of the players in the Simba Bhora set-up will be making their bow at this level, two of their men − Donald Mudadi and Emmanuel Ziocha − played at tthe Obed Itani Chilume Stadium when representing Dynamos in the CAF Confederation Cup last year.

Simba Bhora’s business model has always been able to attract funding and last season, they had more than four corporate partners supporting them.

And they have more than five companies sponsoring them this time.