Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
SHAMVA-BASED Simba Bhora are gunning for the league title after signing 10 new players ahead of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season which kicks off on the 24th of February.
The 10 players include 2022 Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona and his former teammate at FC Platinum Perfect Chikwende.
Young defensive midfielder Junior Makunike has been lured from Dynamos alongside goalkeeper Timon Mvula as well as midfielder Malvin Mkolo and Billy Vheremu from Bulawayo Chiefs and shot-stopper Talbert Shumba.
This comes after Club owner Simba Ndoro stated that they are going for the league title this season.
It is however not the first time that Simba Bhora have gone for players with proven pedigree after signing 16 players in their debut season last year.
The club signed the likes of former Warriors winger Talent Chawapiwa, utility player Blessing Moyo, defender Valentine Musarurwa, midfielders Tichaona Chipunza, Keith Murera and Hugh Chikosi as well as former Dynamos captain Partson Jaure, among others.
Despite the massive recruitment, Simba Bhora battled relegation for the greater part of the season and only survived the dreaded chop by two points.
History has also revealed that money is not the answer after the now defunct Buymore, Shooting Stars and Sporting Lions learnt it the hard way.
In recent times FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum only won the title after changing the approach.
Simba Bhora are under the tutelage of youthful coach Tonderai Ndiraya who is synonymous with shopping sprees.
In 2016, when he took charge of the then newly promoted Ngezi Platinum Stars, Ndiraya signed six players Partson Jaure, Walter Mukanga, Kelvin Bulaji, Liberty Chakoroma, Washington Pakamisa and Godknows Murwira.
He then moved to Dynamos in 2019 and in three seasons at the Glamour Boys, he signed 45 players among them Partson Jaure, Keith Murera and Godknows Murwira, but he failed to win any silverware.
The trend has continued at Simba Bhora amid indications that the club is still on the market for more players.
Ndiraya is also known for his bias towards foreigners who somehow fail to make the grade.
At Simba Bhora, he has Vincent Aboubaker, a goalkeeper who only played once, while at Dynamos, he signed five foreigners with only Emmanuel Paga and Sylvester Appiah getting game time, while Albert Eonde, Alex Orotomal and Martin Ofori posed questions on how they were recruited.
