Simba Bhora surge continues

By Henry Mhara | 1h ago

Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (1) 2

Zpc Kariba . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

Simba Bhora continued their remarkable resurgence yesterday, dispatching a 10-man ZPC Kariba at Wadzanayi Stadium to secure their third consecutive victory.

The win catapulted the 2024 league champions back into the title conversation, moving them into fourth place on the log standings.

Captain Webster Tafa opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, followed by a moment of pure magic from substitute Petrus Samaneka, whose 65th-minute bicycle kick doubled the lead.

Although Remington Masuku pulled one back for the visitors late on, ZPC Kariba’s hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Ishmael Muroiwa saw red in the dying embers of the match for a second bookable offense.

The victory takes Simba Bhora to 19 points, just five behind pacesetters Hardrock.

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The result follows high-profile scalps of FC Platinum and defending champions Scottland last week, leaving head coach Mandla Mpofu delighted with his side's momentum.

"Well done to the boys, three wins in a row is something that is special, it's gold," Mpofu said. "The boys are working hard in the past three games. Scoring seven goals in three matches means a lot. We came into the match under pressure after our win last week.

“Obviously its something that I was psyching the players to say, 'we can't be embarrassed.' I told them we beat one of the biggest clubs in the country so the next game is important."

Despite the win, Mpofu noted that the scoreline could have been even more emphatic given his team's dominance.

"We were playing a team with one of the best defence so it was about how best can we break the defensive line and create opportunities. But as much as the best defense, they were vulnerable at the back. We created so many scoring opportunities in the first half, same applies again in the second half. We got over seven or eight one-on-one situations where we could have done better," Mpofu added.

For ZPC Kariba, the afternoon was one of frustration.

The defeat extends their winless run to seven matches, leaving them languishing in 12th position.

Coach Newman Mashipe did not hide his disappointment, citing tactical lapses and late personnel changes.

"We are very disappointed," Mashipe said. "We came here knowing that Simba Bhora are on a fine run, but we thought we were going to change things today. But it was in the first half which I feel we were a bit disorganised especially in midfield. We were giving them too much space to play, which I feel affected our play. Also, our game plan got affected when two of our starting players were forced off the line up because of an injury in warm up and sickness."

The home side signaled their intent from the first whistle, dominating the early exchanges with the swagger of a team that had recently humbled heavyweights FC Platinum and Scottland.

Despite several wasted opportunities—including a crucial one-on-one save by ZPC Kariba’s Future Sibanda against Harrison Masina—the deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute.

After Muroiwa brought down the elusive Masina inside the area, captain Tafa took responsibility, coolly sending Sibanda the wrong way to ignite the home crowd.

However, the afternoon belonged to substitute Samaneka.

Just after the hour mark, Wadzanayi held its breath as the Namibian rose to meet a cross, connecting with a stunning bicycle kick that flew into the net to double the lead.

It was a spectacular way to open his scoring account.

ZPC Kariba did manage to set up a nervy finale when Remington Masuku pounced on a defensive lapse by Ishmael Nyanhi to head home in the 84th minute.

For a moment, an unlikely heist seemed possible, but Simba Bhora goalkeeper William Thole produced a point-blank save from Malven Hwata just sixty seconds later to preserve the lead.

Any hopes of a Kariba come back were officially buried in the 89th minute when Muroiwa received his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Blessed Ndereki, leaving the visitors to finish the contest with ten men and a sense of "what if."

Teams

Simba Bhora: W Thole, W Tafa, K Eib, L Chaziya, I Nyanhi, N Tsabora (C Mavhurume, 79'), A Silla, B Ncube (A Levi, 79'), H Masina (T Mandinyenya, 91'), B Ndereki, M Naweseb (P Samaneka, 61').

Zpc Kariba: F Sibanda, K Gwao, K Madima (M Hwata, 55'), I Muroiwa (redcard, 89'), C Musimwa, C Muleya, M Kamwendo, V Chidzero (G Mutungamiri, 55'), C Dzingai, C Munyanyi, W Kamurai (R Masuku, 78').