SIMBA Bhora coach Joel Luphahla has issued a stern challenge to his squad, calling for them to be more clinical in front of goal as they prepare for the decisive second leg of their preliminary-round Caf Champions League tie against Nsingizini Hotspurs this Sunday in Eswatini.
The Shamva-based side holds a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg.
The solitary goal, a well-placed header from Ishmael Nyanhi off a Blessing Moyo cross, was the only thing that separated the two sides in the first leg played under floodlights in Francistown, Botswana, last Sunday.
But the scoreline barely tells the story of the chances Simba Bhora squandered.
A victory by a wider margin was well within their grasp, and that missed opportunity now looms large over the team.
Luphahla is clearly worried.
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He saw a Nsingizini team that, despite coming from pre-season, showed flashes of individual brilliance that could easily turn the tie on its head.
“It wasn’t easy to play a team we don’t know,” Luphahla said.
“It’s like you’re heading into the unknown. I only knew they have a good coach who has been coaching for over 18 years now.
“To get a slight lead, we take that as a positive, but I would have preferred the boys had buried the chances we got. In the Champions League, one chance has to be a goal.”
The coach’s message is simple: There is no room for hesitation or wasted opportunities.
The quality of the opposition is a genuine concern, and a failure to be clinical could prove fatal.
Luphahla, however, is banking on his team’s remarkable away form.
This season, they have shown a knack for dominating on the road, with seven wins and only three losses in 14 away matches.
“I know we can play under pressure. We’ve been doing very well away from home, so we can bank on that.
“We are able to withstand pressure. I know the pressure is going to be immense, but I’m confident my boys will do well.”
While the first leg was a frustrating display of missed chances, Luphahla sees a silver lining.
The fact that his team was able to create so many opportunities in the first place is a testament to their attacking prowess.
“When you play and your team doesn’t score goals, you get worried,” he said.
“But when you create opportunities, you can be confident that on a good day, you can put those chances away.
“We managed to carve them open and create good opportunities. We will go and work on our composure as a team to make sure that we wrap up the game.”
The Simba Bhora squad did not return home after the first leg.
They travelled directly from Botswana to Eswatini to prepare for the decisive game, a testament to the club’s commitment and focus.
A win against Nsingizini would not only propel Simba Bhora into the next round, but also set up a tantalising clash with either Botswana’s Gaborone United or Tanzanian powerhouse Simba SC, who also carry a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg.