Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. FOR Simba Bhora, a club making its debut in the prestigious Caf Champions League, the dream of playing their historic first continental match at home has quickly turned into a logistical nightmare.
The National Sports Stadium, a facility promised to be ready for international matches, has once again been deemed unfit by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
This decision forces the club to seek a foreign venue for their preliminary round home match against Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini, a move that comes with a hefty financial burden and casts a shadow over their historic campaign.
Just a week ago, there was a glimmer of hope when Caf appeared to give the National Sports Stadium a conditional pass.
Government assurances had fuelled optimism that the venue would be ready in time, even for Zimbabwe’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the start of the continental club season.
However, recent images shared on social media tell a different story.
The stadium’s lawn remains unlaid and critical infrastructure like water reticulation and turnstiles are far from complete.
The reality is stark: the National Sports Stadium is not ready for prime time. This latest setback is a bitter pill for Simba Bhora.
Club chairperson Isiah Mupfurutsa confirmed the club is now in a frantic search for an alternative venue, with South Africa and Botswana being the top contenders.
“We had made some arrangements for South Africa, but we are also working on Botswana because in terms of costs, Botswana is better,” Mupfurutsa told NewsDay Sport yesterday.
“We have not fully secured the venue so we can’t really announce at the moment. We are, however, at an advanced stage in terms of negotiations and hope to finalise a decision in the coming few days.”
For a team making its inaugural appearance, the added expense of securing a stadium, accommodating players and staff abroad, and managing logistics will be a significant challenge.
Simba Bhora will host the first leg between September 19 and 22, and should they advance, they will likely face a formidable opponent in Tanzanian giants Simba SC, adding another layer of complexity to their continental journey.
Despite the off-field hurdles, head coach Joel Luphahla remains remarkably confident.
The former Dynamos assistant coach, who is in his first season at the helm of a league club, has been tasked with the ambitious target of reaching the group stages of the Champions League.
Luphahla believes his team has the quality and depth to meet that challenge.
He sees the matchup against a fellow southern African team as a strategic advantage.
“We are heading into the unknown, but what we want to try and count on is that our season is about to end and our players are on top of their game,” he said.
Luphahla plans to capitalise on the fact that Nsingizini Hotspurs will only be in their first week of the new season when they face off.
He also sees a silver lining in the club’s recent elimination from the domestic Chibuku Super Cup.
“I don’t want to say this and get fired, but I’m happy that we were knocked out of Chibuku because it was going to be difficult for me,” he admitted.
Luphahla believes the team can now manage the pressure of competing on two fronts: the league, where they are leading the title race with nine matches remaining, and the Champions League.
“The pressure that will be there is that sometimes you will be coming to play two games that are in hand,” Luphahla acknowledged.
“But we are going to try and make sure that we play both the Champions League and the Championship because we need to retain the Championship. We need to make history, but it’s not going to be easy.”
Simba Bhora’s journey continues this Saturday as they host Kwekwe United at Wadzanayi Stadium, a match that will be critical in their quest to retain the league title and maintain momentum for their unique and challenging continental adventure.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matchday 26 fixtures
Tomorrow: Yadah v Ngezi Platinum (Heart)
Saturday: TelOne v Chicken Inn (Ascot), FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava), Simba Bhora v Kwekwe United (Wadzanayi), Herentals v Scottland (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba v Triangle (Nyamhunga)
Sunday: Manica Diamonds v MWOS (Sakubva), Dynamos v Green Fuel (Rufaro), Bikita Minerals v Highlanders (Gibbo)
For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe Follow Africa-Press
