HARARE – The top of the table Northern Region Soccer League clash between title aspirants Golden Eagles and Simba Bhora lived up to it’s billing with a capacity crowd witnessing the match which ended 1-1 at Ellis Robbins grounds in Harare on Tuesday.
Simba Bhora bused a number of supporters from Shamva while Premier Soccer League club executives and coaches from Harare also thronged Ellis grounds with Dynamos chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa, his technical team, CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe, his assistants, General Manager for National teams Wellington Mpandare, former CAPS United owner Twine Phiri, celebrated former Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa were some of the notable public football figures at the match.
The crowd also included Premier Soccer League officials, cricket administrator Hamilton Masakadza as well as former Warriors defender Dumisani Mpofu, former Dynamos coach Clayton Munemo and a host of faces that had long disappeared from the local game.
There was little to separate the two teams going into halftime but Golden Eagles found the breakthrough in the second half, Knowledge Mapuka heading home unmarked inside the box with Simba Bhora goalkeeper Simba Chinani taking long to come off his line to cut the cross.
Simba Bhora with a number of seasoned players in their squad, summoned all their experience with former CAPS United midfielder Ronald ‘Rooney’ Chitiyo setting up Dean Chunga to equalise in the dying stages of the match.
The result saw Simba Bhora maintain a three point lead ahead of Golden Eagles with six matches to go before the end of the season.
Golden Eagles coach Gilbert Mushangazhike said they failed manage the match towards the end and could have at least collected maximum points.
“I think we failed to focus up to the end of the match. Football is a plus ninety minutes game so you need to stay focused but for the players they gain the experience by playing such big matches,” Mushangazhike said.
The Golden Eagles coach said he is not worried about dropping points to a team that they are in contest against for the league title.
“We are not under any pressure, this is football. We remain focused and we are just taking it game by game. We have gained something from this game and we build on that going into the next match. You know experience you gain it, you don’t buy it so the players have gained something from this match.”
Golden Eagles face another tough assignment at the weekend against second placed Herentals U20 while Simba Bhora are away to bottom side Cam & Motor.
- NRSL Times
