SIMBA Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya has said his team have proven that they are championship material and now want their mental strength to carry them home.
The Shamva-based side are seven points away from clinching the league title in only their second season in the topflight.
Ndiraya’s men lead second-placed FC Platinum Stars by nine points with five games remaining.
While the former Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars coach admits the title is now theirs to lose, he warned his players that they should be prepared for a fight in the remaining matches, starting with a tricky clash against Herentals at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
“At this stage of the season, all the games are going to be difficult,” Ndiraya said.
“The teams are now playing to place themselves better on the log standings. All the remaining games are not going to be easy.
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“In fact, they haven’t been easy, but, of course, it’s now the home stretch, and it’s now getting more and more difficult. We expect a very tough encounter against Herentals. Herentals being Herentals, they are very tough, especially when they play at Rufaro Stadium. But we are taking it step by step. We will give it our all and make sure we collect as many points as possible.”
After the Herentals clash, Simba Bhora host Caps United at their Wadzanayi fortress before travelling to Bulawayo to face Arenel Movers.
They will then welcome FC Platinum before concluding the season away to ZPC Kariba.
FC Platinum’s remaining fixtures are against Yadah at home this afternoon, followed by a trip to Dynamos.
They then host Bulawayo Chiefs, travel to Shamva before hosting TelOne to end their season.
The Norman Mapeza-coached FC Platinum might need to conjure a perfect record in these remaining matches to stand a chance of snatching the title away from the runaway leaders.
Simba Bhora remain firm favourites to clinch the title, and their chances have been boosted by the return from injury of star midfielder Mthokozisi Msebe.
The former Bulawayo Chiefs man suffered an injury a fortnight ago at a time when he had hit top form and scoring crucial goals for his side.
He missed his team’s last match, a huge 1-0 win over Chicken Inn.
Last week’s international break could have come at the right time for Msebe to recover.
If Simba Bhora win today and FC Platinum fail to collect maximum points, Ndiraya would likely wrap things up at home next week.
The reverse fixture between Herentals and Simba Bhora ended in a goalless draw, on one of those rare occasions that Ndiraya’s men have failed to collect maximum points at Wadzanayi Stadium this season.
Matchday 30 fixtures
Today: Herentals v Simba Bhora (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Yadah (Mandava), Bikita Minerals v GreenFuel (Sakubva), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Chicken In v TelOne (Luveve), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Chegutu Pirates (Baobab)
Tomorrow: Manica Diamonds v Highlanders (Sakubva), Arenel Movers v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Caps United v Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro)