Vusumuzi Dube
Bulawayo Chiefs FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Simba Bhora FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sports Writer
BULAWAYO Chiefs FC coach Johanisi Nhumwa did not hide his frustration at how his players put up what he described as ‘poor show’ as they lost 1-0 to a forceful Simba Bhora FC in the Castle Lager Premiership match played yesterday at Luveve Stadium.
The loss was Chiefs’ third on the trot. So enraged was Nhumwa as he made it known that he does not understand why the players fail to adhere to his instructions for them not to relax in the opening stages of the game.
Visiting Simba Bhora scored in the third minute, a goal by Tymon Machope which was to seal the victory and one that left Nhumwa puzzled at how his charges let the guard off, at the opening stretch.
What bothers the coach most is that Amakhosi Amahle have been scored in the same manner in the previous games.
Nhumwa said he has realised that once they are beaten in the first quarter of the match, they have found it hard to recover. His players fail to payback, and that is what bothers him.
“We started the game poorly. In football, by the time you sleep, you are out. If you look back in our previous games, we are always being scored in the first five minutes. We are relaxing. I don’ know why. I have been telling the players even at training, during team talk that there is no need to back pedal in the early stages of the game. Let’s be up there and defend. That is real football, if you don’t do that you lose games. We will lift up in the next game,” said Nhumwa.
He said if they equalised, they would have changed the complexion of the game.
“If we had equalised, it would have been another story, a different situation. If we had to score in the second half, it was going to be better.”
The winning coach, Tonderai Ndiraya spoke like a man so confident of what he earned on the road. He put up a smile as he talked of how good it felt to beat Bulawayo Chiefs on the backdrop of another victory over Highlanders last week. They beat Bosso 3-0 and that upped confidence in their camp, as Ndiraya would say.
“I am very happy and excited. If you can beat two good teams, with so much football history, then you know that you are developing well. We are a club that is still developing. In our development we have sprung one or two surprises,” he said.
Ndiraya admitted it was a tense match and defending the lead was not easy.
“It was a difficult match. We played under difficult conditions as it was very hot. We played a very good opponent but our plan really worked as we wanted to get an early goal and that we did. I am happy how my boys defended, especially in the second half,” said Ndiraya.
He heaped praise on Machope, whom he said could have scored a brace. Machope has scored six goals so far in the season.
His other player, who had a good day was Ronald Chitiyo who was forced off the field after he suffered a head injury in the 55th minute. He was replaced by Vasili Kawe.
While going back home as victors gave Ndiraya and his players a boost, they would have to accept that Chiefs gave them a torrid time in the second half. The home side knocked at the goalmouth several times but the visitors defence and their goalkeeper Simbarashe Chinani were busy and equal to the task to thwart Chiefs.
On 32 minutes of play, Chiefs’ Panashe Shoko hit a goal bound ball off a free kick but, it went over the bar.
Moments after the breather, they got another freekick but again Shoko’s effort found an alert Chinani.
Veteran Danny Phiri was unlucky later as his hard shot was tipped over by the goalkeeper.
Teams:
Bulawayo Chiefs FC: Khulekani Dube, Ben Nyahunzwi, Mthokozisi Msebe, Nkosilathi Ncube, Panashe Shoko, Danny Phiri, Mandlenkosi Gasela (Ayanda Ncube, 83rd minute), Felix Moyo, Dalubuhle Dlodlo (Billy Veremu, 58mins), Malvern Hativagoni (Miguel Feldman, 90th minute), Farau Matare (Nixon Gama, 83rd minute)
Simba Bhora FC : Simbarashe Chinani, Ronald Kangadzi (Valentine Musarurwa, 83rd minute), Tymon Machope, Albert Manenji, Ronald Chitiyo (Vasili Kawe, 55th minute), Ishmael Nyanhi, Webster Tafa, Tichaona Chipunza, Blessing Moyo, Patson Jaure, Tinashe Balakasi (Alexander Mandinyenya, 66th minute)
Yesterday’s PSL results
Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 Chicken Inn
ZPC Kariba 2-1 FC Platinum
Bulawayo Chiefs 0-1 Simba Bhora
Black Rhinos 0-0 Greenfuel
Herentals 4-0 Yadah
Castle Lager Premiership
P W D L F A Pts
Ngezi Platinum 27 16 6 5 36 16 54
Fc Platinum 27 13 7 7 30 22 46
Highlanders 26 12 9 5 19 16 45
Dynamos 26 11 10 5 30 11 43
M/Diamonds 26 12 7 7 33 18 43
Herentals 27 11 9 7 32 25 42
Chicken Inn 27 9 13 5 26 20 40
Simba Bhora 27 8 11 8 22 18 35
Hwange 26 9 7 10 21 21 34
Zpc Kariba 27 9 6 12 18 33 33
Greenfuel 27 9 6 12 19 27 33
Byo Chiefs 27 8 8 11 30 32 32
Caps United 26 7 9 10 22 22 30
Sheasham 26 6 12 8 14 24 30
Yadah 27 9 3 15 23 39 30
Triangle 26 4 14 8 17 28 26
Black Rhinos 27 5 9 13 19 30 24
C/Bullets 26 5 6 15 12 23 21
— @NkosieLegend
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter