CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Simba Bhora coach, Tonderai Ndiraya has admitted that his team is under pressure, given their unforgiving first few fixtures in the topflight.
Having played and lost to FC Platinum on Saturday, they meet talented Chicken Inn today before facing Dynamos next week.
Simba Bhora lost their first match 2-1 to FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium after giving the champions a scare, but went on to surrender a 1-0 lead in their top flight league baptism.
FC Platinum’s Juan Mutudza decimated Simba Bhora with a brace in the second half, after Ronald Chitiyo had put the newcomers ahead in the first half.
Ndiraya told an online publication that his side is under pressure, coming from Division One to play three first big matches against FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and Dynamos.
“We are playing the top three teams from last season’s final log-standings so you can imagine, that has put a lot of pressure on us. We played FC Platinum first, who were first last season, we are playing Chicken Inn who were second last season and our third match is against Dynamos who were third last season. That really put us under a lot of pressure, but this is how it is. We just have to take it, be positive and move ahead. It’s a tough match (against Chicken Inn), a very tough one, but that is why we are here. We are here to play those tough matches because we are new, but we are confident that we can go there and get a result; but I must admit that it is going to be very difficult for us,” Ndiraya said.
Simba Bhora invade the City of Kings and Queens with experienced players in the likes of Chitiyo, Tichaona Chipunza, Partson Jaure, Keith Murera and Talent Chawapiwa.
Chicken Inn did not do well in their first game, being held by another new outfit Sheasham away at Mandava Stadium last weekend, on a day that their midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu was shown a red card.
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Fixtures
Today: Ngezi Platinum v Caps United (Baobab), FC Platinum v Cranborne Bullets (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Simba Bhora (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Highlanders (NSS), Green Fuel v Herentals (Gibbo)
Tomorrow: Dynamos v Sheasham (NSS), Manica Diamonds v Triangle (Gibbo), Yadah v Hwange (Baobab)
Monday: ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo Chiefs (NSS).
