SIMBA Bhora coach Joel Luphahla remains defiant, insisting his team will rebound from a challenging two weeks that have cast a shadow over their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title defence.
The defending league champions were held to a 1-1 draw at home by ZPC Kariba on Saturday, a week after a similar result against FC Platinum in Zvishavane.
These consecutive draws saw Simba Bhora surrender their top spot to MWOS, just ahead of their crucial visit to bogey side Herentals this weekend.
For Luphahla, the past fortnight has delivered a bruising blow to his team's title aspirations.
Yet, in the face of this unexpected wobble, he remains resolute, his voice echoing a steely determination that belies the recent setbacks.
“We are disappointed that we dropped two points at home," he admitted, the frustration evident. "Because in this second half of the season, we need to take advantage of our home ground."
Last season, Simba Bhora's title charge was a masterclass in home dominance, with Wadzanayi Stadium becoming a fortress, where only FC Platinum managed to win after the title was already in the bag.
This season, the unbeaten home record remains intact after 10 matches, but the gloss has been dulled by five draws, including against struggling outfits like GreenFuel.
- Title rivals face tough weekend
- DeMbare, FC Platinum fight for Chibuku Cup
- ZPC Kariba thumps Manica Diamonds
- Simba Bhora boss excepts thrilling Super 8 final
Keep Reading
Luphahla acknowledges the pressure, a byproduct of their success last term.
"It's been difficult playing here. Not that it's the pressure, but we don't want to let our fans down. The expectations are too much, and sometimes it gets the best of our players."
He quickly adds a note of unwavering faith in his squad,
"But I have got a good squad here, good players."
The recent dip in form is not solely a mental battle, however.
The absence of key players at the weekend undoubtedly disrupted the finely tuned rhythm that has often carried them to glory this term.
Goalkeeper William Thole and defenders Ishe Mauchi and Roland Kangadzi, all regular starters, were conspicuously missing. The ripple effect was felt deeply, most notably with captain Blessing Moyo being pushed back from his creative midfield role to fill Mauchi's shoes in central defence.
"Having guys out that have played almost 17 games meant we lost the rhythm," Luphahla explained, painting a clear picture of the tactical compromise. "You could see, maybe in the second half, the rhythm was there, but it was not there in the first half. Because we had to take our captain away from that creative position in midfield to bring him back to cover for Mauchi. And I think the steam was taken away... we felt it."
Despite falling three points behind MWOS, who have 40 points to Simba Bhora's 37 after 19 rounds, Luphahla still finds a silver lining in the recent draws.
"I'm glad that we did not lose the game. Because in the first half of the game, there were nervous moments where we could have lost the game, so I'm glad that we got the point." His disappointment, however, remains palpable. "I'm just disappointed that it's a point at home and that we have dropped four points in two games, which I think is not good enough with our standards."
The focus now shifts to the immediate future, a demanding encounter against Herentals at Rufaro Stadium this Saturday. Herentals, a team Luphahla describes as "difficult to break down and they don't give away goals... they don't give away points," have historically proven to be a bogey side for Simba Bhora.
Yet, the memory of their 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture at Wadzanayi earlier this season offers a flicker of psychological advantage.
Luphahla's message to his squad is unequivocal.
"I demand more from my players and they know that," he stated firmly.
"And I'm sure you saw in the second half [against ZPC Kariba], the reaction was good. Because we demanded that they go out there and make sure they don't disappoint our fans. With a little bit of patience, we could have scored more goals. But we were desperate, we tried everything to come back to the game. But it's two points dropped. We go back and work and continue doing what we've been doing."
Their path to defending their league title was never going to be smooth, and as they prepare to face Herentals, the true test will be whether Luphahla can rekindle the champions' fire and prove that these recent stumbles are merely a temporary detour on their road to glory.
"I trust these boys. I know their capabilities," Luphahla said, his voice resonating with a quiet confidence. "And I know that we can go there and get maximum points."
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday 20 fixtures
Saturday: Herentals v Simba Bhora (Rufaro), TelOne v Dynamos (Ascot), Zpc Kariba v Manica Diamonds (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Yadah v MWOS (Heart), Bikita Minerals v Kwekwe United (Gibbo), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Scottland (Baobab).
Sunday: Highlanders v GreenFuel (Barbourfields), Caps United v Triangle (Rufaro).
