Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. FAR from the familiar roar of their home supporters in Shamva, Simba Bhora captain Blessing Moyo has sounded the war cry.
They are ready to make a mark in Africa.
With their sights set on the lucrative group stage, the defending league champions has a burning desire to make an early impression in the CAF Champions League, starting with their debut match tomorrow against Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs in the preliminary stage.
This historic campaign finds the team on foreign soil, a cruel irony born from Zimbabwe’s lack of a CAF-certified stadium.
Yet, this geographical hurdle has done nothing to dent the squad’s ambition.
“What I can say is that our preparations are going on well,” Moyo, a veteran presence in the squad, declared.
“We are well-motivated, knowing that we are a small club, but representing our country.
“We just have to do what we have to do to proceed to the next stage.”
Simba Bhora’s debut is a tale of two newcomers.
Nsingizini Hotspurs are also greenhorns in the continent’s premier club competition, with their only prior CAF experience being a bruising 8-0 aggregate defeat to South Africa’s Stellenbosch last season in the Confederations Cup.
While Simba Bhora are tipped to go through, coach Joel Luphahla isn’t taking anything for granted.
“It’s not going to be an easy game, but I am very confident in what these boys can do,” Luphahla said.
“We want to make sure that a mark is left and we want to make sure that everybody after this, they know that there is Simba Bhora in Zimbabwe.”
The winner of this two-legged tie will face a much stiffer test against Tanzanian giants Simba SC, with the ultimate prize of a spot in the group stage hanging in the balance.
The team arrived in Francistown on Wednesday night and has quickly settled in.
Luphahla credited the club’s management led by president Simba “Buju” Ndoro for ensuring the players’ comfort, a crucial factor in their preparation.
“We are staying at a nice place … It’s very important that the players are very comfortable, the surroundings should be very comfortable.”
With a full-strength squad to choose from and a pitch he described as “beautiful”, Luphahla is confident his team’s signature passing game will flourish.
“The boys look healthy, and they look motivated,” he said.
He called for unity, urging the country to rally behind the team
“I’m sure a lot of people will be rooting for us and this is the time that we put aside all the differences and come together for one cause. We are going to make sure that we do not disappoint.”
The journey has begun, and Simba Bhora is carrying the hopes of a nation on its shoulders.
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