Simba Bhora reclaim pole position

Zimpapers Sports Hub

AMBITIOUS Simba Bhora reclaimed pole position in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with a 1-0 win over Yadah at Wadzanai Stadium yesterday.

Hitman Tymon Machope scored the all-important goal that took Simba Bhora top of the standings with 43 points from 22 matches, one point ahead of FC Platinum, who visit CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.

FC Platinum just need to avoid defeat this afternoon to go back on top.

It was Machope’s ninth goal of the season and he joins CAPS United’s William Manondo and Yadah’s Khama Billiat for a three-way lead at the summit of the Golden Boot contest.

Simba Bhora are the Premiership’s in-form team with 19 points from their last eight matches, followed by defending champions Ngezi Platinum, who have 16 points over the same period.

At Baobab, Ngezi Platinum were held to a goalless draw at home by Green Fuel on a frustrating afternoon.

They celebrated prematurely in the 80th minute, when Marvellous Mukumba headed in a cross from Qadr Amini, but the assistant referee flagged for offside.

At Luveve Stadium, Chicken Inn added to Manica Diamonds’ woes with a 1-0 win that extended the Gem Boys’ winless run to eight games.

Manica Diamonds have only scored one goal over the past eight games, collecting six points from draws.

It was a Manica Diamonds player, Lawrence Masibera, whose own goal decided the closely contested match, as Chicken Inn took revenge for a similar defeat in the reverse fixture at Sakubva Stadium.

Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera handed ex-Warriors midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi a starting place, only for him to last 32 minutes.

In the lead-up to the match, Mahachi had made headlines with rumours that he had fallen out of favour with Tapera.

Despite all the negative talk in the corridors about his alleged fallout with Mahachi, Tapera granted the player a starting place in his squad.

In his post-match interview, Tapera refuted allegations of a rift with Mahachi.

“We have got players and we value their contribution,” he said.

“At the same time, there are some tactics and movements that we respect and should be applied, hence we made changes. When we made changes we had value, but we were unfortunate not to equalise.

“But whatever Mahachi did in terms of movement and formations, he did it at his best.

“In football, it’s about portions. Each player has his own portion. I think he had his portion and whoever came in also played his portion. We respect those things.

“What is important is to go on and restart and reorganise ourselves.”

He added:

“You can imagine the rumours that were there when l was with the national team. We are used to these rumours.

“It’s wrong for some of you guys (journalists) who report. I think we need to respect each other. These rumours affect everybody. Not only me but everyone. I think you guys (journalists) must have respect for us. We also value your contribution. But when things go that way, it’s very wrong.”

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas said it was a sweet victory for them.

“In our last game against ZPC Kariba, the travel arrangements were not perfect and the boys were fatigued. It was a game of two halves. We dominated the first half and they had the edge in the second half, but for us it was a sweet victory,” he said.

At Rufaro, ZPC Kariba extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a goalless draw against Herentals. It was a lifeless encounter, with neither side creating goal-scoring opportunities in the first half.

The only meaningful chance in the second half came from a free-kick in the 72nd minute, but ZPC Kariba right-back Fanuel Shoko’s effort crashed against the woodwork.

 

Yesterday

Chicken Inn        1-0 Manica Diamonds

Herentals            0-0 ZPC Kariba

Ngezi Platinum 0-0 Greenfuel

Simba Bhora      1-0 Yadah

Today

Bikita Minerals v Arenel (Sakubva)

Bulawayo Chiefs v Dynamos (Barbourfields)

CAPS United v FC Platinum (Rufaro)

Chegutu Pirates v Highlanders (Baobab)

TelOne v Hwange (Bata)