SIMBA Bhora coach Joel Luphahla says his team will have to sign a prolific striker in the June transfer window if they are to successfully defend their league title.
The defending league champions signed Isaskar Gurirab to replace Tymon Machope, who left for Scottland at the start of the season, but the Namibian has been inconsistent in front of goal.
Another striker, William Manondo, who also arrived at the start of the season, has been plagued by injuries and has been in and out of the team.
The departure of Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona and Mthokozisi Msebe also left the Shamva-based team desperately short of attacking options.
Msebe and Machope contributed with crucial goals last season as Simba Bhora cantered to the championship.
Luphahla’s men have scored nine goals in 11 matches so far, of which four were scored in a single match against Manica Diamonds.
In those 11 matches, they failed to score in six of them, something that is worrying the head coach.
They currently sit third on the log standings with 19 points, four behind log leaders MWOS.
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And with the Caf Champions League games also looming large, Luphahla feels his side need to get a proven striker if they are to challenge for titles in both the local and continental front.
“I am happy that we are going towards the transfer window. Maybe we need to bring one guy who’s going to help take the load off Gurirab,” Luphahla said.
“Because when you bring a foreigner, all the focus is always on him to score goals. But I think we need other people that will come in and help him.”
In the team’s last match, a 2-0 defeat against Scottland on Sunday, Gurirab, who has netted three goals for his new club, missed a host of good goalscoring opportunities.
Luphahla was appointed head coach at Simba Bhora at the start of the season and tasked with rebuilding the team after at least 15 players left.
He is happy with the team’s progress so far, although he feels they are yet to reach their full potential.
“It’s 11 games, we are not so good, but we are not so bad,” Luphahla reckoned.
“I look at it like it’s my first season. Maybe I’m still trying to find myself against these big coaches. But the progress is not so bad.
“If you look at the team, we brought in almost 15 players. I don’t think you have ever heard of a team that brings in 15 players and immediately hit the ground running.
“It destabilises everything. It’s a new team completely, because we were only left with four players that were playing last season, the back four.”
The Simba Bhora mentor added: “ So the progress is not so bad when you look at it from that angle. But the owners of the team and the fans are demanding. They don’t look at all those specs. They only want to see their team win.
“We knew when we took this job that we were under pressure. We are the defending champions. We need to try and make sure that we hit the ground running as quickly as possible because there’s no time.”
After last weekend’s disappointment against Scottland, Luphahla’s men will be looking to return to winning ways tomorrow and keep pace with the early pacesetters, when they host relegation strugglers Triangle at Wadzanayi Stadium.
Matchday 12 fixtures
Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Bikita Minerals (Mandava), TelOne v Yadah (Ascot), ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Nyamhunga), Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Rufaro), Simba Bhora v Triangle (Wadzanayi), Manica Diamonds v Scottland (Sakubva), Chicken Inn v GreenFuel (Luveve), MWOS v Kwekwe United (Ngoni)
Sunday: Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro)
