Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, innocent.kurira@chronicle
SIMBA Bhora will make their fourth visit to Bulawayo on Saturday and this time around they will be praying they do not go back home empty handed.
In their last three visits to the City of Kings and Queens, Simba Bhora lost all their matches to their Bulawayo opponents.
They lost to Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs on an identical 1-0 score-line before they were handed a 3-2 defeat by Chicken Inn in a pulsating match that was played at Luveve Stadium.
The Shamva-based outfit will be praying for better fortunes against Dynamos who at the beginning of the week parted ways with coach Genesis Mangombe and replaced him with Llyod “MaBlanyo” Chigowe on an interim basis.
The game will be played at Barbourfields Stadium due to the unavailability of Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
Simba Bhora have struggled in Bulawayo and Dynamos have a “new” coach that sets the tone for a potentially thrilling season, according to local football analyst Dalubuhle Bhebhe.
“It’s going to be a difficult game especially for Dynamos because they are coming from a draw against Bulawayo Chiefs who lost a big number of players in the mid-season window.
“Dynamos have also lost a coach which probably will make this game an uphill task for them. But then there is a saying that a coach never loses his first game and as such I think it will be a good game. Simba Bhora have also not done well in Bulawayo so with these stakes, I think a draw is a more likely result,” said Bhebhe.
In the reverse fixture, the Tonderayi Ndiraya mentored Simba Bhora, won 1-0 at Wadzanayi Stadium. Their captain, Walter Musona got the all-important goal.
The Shamva-based outfit sits on top of the table with 43 points from 22 games.
FC Platinum who lost to CAPS United in Harare are now in second place just a point behind the leaders. Defending champions Ngezi Platinum are third with 37 points while Highlanders are fourth with 36 points.
-@innocentskizoe
Online Reporter