ARENEL MOVERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 0
SIMBA BHORA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
SIMBA Bhora are the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions after their win over Arenel Movers yesterday took their tally to an unassailabe 66 points with two matches to go in the league.
Simba Bhora fans, who travelled from the team’s base in Shamva, broke into song and dance after the final whistle, presenting a carnival atmosphere at Luveve.
The fans came to the City of Kings in four buses to celebrate their maiden title and some of them arrived at the stadium just after the second half started.
Club owner Simba Ndoro was among the spectators that watched the game.
The scene was reminiscent of last season when Ngezi Platinum Stars were crowned champions at Barbourfields Stadium in their last game of the season against Highlanders, save for the fact that there was no trophy at Luveve.
Walter Musona scored the solitary goal for Simba Bhora 10 minutes into the game after intercepting a Brian Jaravaza back pass, which drew goalkeepeer Aaron Ngwenya off his line and the visitors’ striker had no problem pushing the ball into an empty net.
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The Simba Bhora skipper is now on 10 goals.
Their coach Tonderai Ndiraya was ecstatic about winning his maiden title after having missed it with Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum.
“About the championship, we are very excited for what we have done this season. If my memory serves me well, it should be the 20th or 21st win,” he said.
“That was our target beginning of the year. We knew that if we got 20, 21, 22 wins, we would be champions. That is the target that we were working with. I’m glad that in the end, we have done it.”
Added Ndiraya: “Given that I would like to give credit to our management, the president himself, Simbarashe Ndoro, the board led by (Biri) Shereni, the executive committee led Isaiah Mupfurutsa and, of course, the technical team, the secretariat and our players.
“They are the most important because they did the job and, of course, our supporters who have always been there for us. We have done this together.”
Chrispen Machisi could have snatched the equaliser for Arenel Movers four minutes later, but his scorcher from outside the penalty area was punched away for a corner by goalkeeper Simbarashe Chinani.
Simba Bhora’s Tymon Machope miscued on the run and his weak effort was safely collected by Ngwenya, missing out on getting the second goal for the guests in the 21st minute.
But Arenel were resilient as well, intent on spoiling Simba Bhora’s early title celebration.
An impressive Machisi watched his header sail over the bar in the 23rd minute.
They gave Simba Bhora a hard time in the first half.
Arenel coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube said they would fight to the end despite being booted out of the league.
“We need to journey all the way. We will keep on fighting until the last day,” he said.
“We need to leave the Premier Soccer League with a positive dignity and integrity. We wanted to win the game at all costs but the opponents have all the muscles.”
On the hour mark in the second half, Machope had another chance to increase his goal tally to 11, but had his shot sail over the cross bar.
In the 75th minute, he had another golden opportunity after encroaching the goal area, but was thwarted by Ngwenya, who stole the ball from his feet before he could pull the trigger.
Simba Bhora could have scored five goals in that game as with five minutes to go, Ngwenya came to Arenel’s rescue, punching away for a corner kick, a blistering shot by substitute Mthokozisi Msebe.
Despite the missed opportunities, they still nicked the championship.
Teams
Arenel: A Ngwenya, G Dlodlo, G Chigwenhese, B Gijimani, P Mwenda (D Dlodlo, 80’), A Tandi, B Jaravaza, Z Dambo, L Nyathi, C Machisi, T Banda
Simba Bhora: S Chinani, W Tafa, I Mauchi, T Chipunza, B Moyo, W Mensah (I Nyanhi, 67’), R Kangadzi, G Saunyama (A Manenji, 67’), W Musona (M Msebe, 67’), T Machope (P Chikwende, 79’), V Kawe
