Walter Musona ready for new role

Bruce Chikuni–Sports Reporter

SIMBA Bhora midfielder, Walter Musona, made a winning start to life as a skipper after guiding the miners to a 3-2 victory over Manica Diamonds at Sakubva on Sunday. 

Musona is celebrating his 11th anniversary since making his Castle Lager Premiership debut with the now-defunct Motor Action. 

He had never been captain before joining Simba Bhora. 

Coach, Tonderai Ndiraya announced his decision to hand the armband to Musona just a few minutes before the match.

Musona took over from Tinashe Balakasi, who moved to Botswana during the off-season. Balakasi served the club with distinction before his departure and Musona knows the task at hand. 

He has inherited the crown from the team’s fan favourite. 

Musona admitted to Zimpapers Sports that he was surprised by the assignment.

“I was surprised but I think I have been in this game for some time now. I have learned a lot and I know what is expected from this role. 

“My family only learned about this promotion after seeing the pictures and they have all wished me luck,” said Musona. 

The 28-year-old appears to have steadily matured into one of the country’s finest talents and he has also shown the desire to fight for the Warriors’ cause at the highest level. 

The 2023 Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the Year hailed his teammates for a spirited fight at Sakubva. 

“We showed character, everyone gave his best for us to walk away with maximum points and I think our game plan to score two early goals to unsettle our opponents worked. 

“The coach has reiterated that we are targeting the top eight this season and that’s exactly what we were focusing on, we just want to do better than what we did last season. 

“It’s not going to be easy but I think as a team we are ready for anything that comes our way and I also want to do better to improve my last season’s statistics,” he said. 

Simba Bhora is now preparing to host GreenFuel, who also registered maximum points at the cost of Bulawayo Chiefs on Saturday. 

Last season they shared the available six points. GreenFuel claimed a 1-0 victory at the National Sports Stadium thanks to a Washington Mapuwa free-kick from range. 

Simba Bhora thumped GreenFuel 3-0 on the road in the reverse fixture and they got their goals from Alexander Mandinyenya, Taimon Machope, and Albert Manenji.