Against a backdrop of recent national footballing disappointments, champions Simba Bhora are shouldering the hopes of a nation as they kick off their maiden CAF Champions League campaign this weekend.
The Shamva based team is set to host Eswatini's Nsingizini Hotspurs away in Botswana this Sunday, with club president Simba "Buju" Ndoro vowing to restore joy to local supporters.
The match, the first leg of the preliminary round, will be held at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, a necessity due to Zimbabwe's lack of a CAF-certified stadium. This logistical hurdle, however, has not dampened the club's resolve.
The match is more than just a game.
It's an opportunity to heal a country bruised by a series of disappointments in international assignments.
"We know we have not been doing so well of late in these international games," Ndoro said, acknowledging the collective pain.
"Our aim is to put the smiles back into the people's faces. We want to go out there and raise the country's flag high."
Ndoro's words resonate deeply with Zimbabwean fans.
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The Warriors' recent World Cup qualifying dreams were extinguished by back-to-back losses to Rwanda and Benin. Herentals Queens stumbled in the COSAFA Champions League, and even the Young Warriors were on Monday booted from the Cosafa Under-17 tournament the country is currently hosting.
In this climate of dashed hopes, Simba Bhora’s rise from a newly promoted side to league champions in just two seasons feels like a fairytale.
Now, the team, coached by a novice in Joel Luphahla is being asked to author the next triumphant chapter in Zimbabwean football history.
Their journey, however, hasn't been without its challenges.
The lack of a CAF-certified stadium in Zimbabwe means they have had to travel to Botswana for their "home" game.
Despite this hurdle, the club's preparations have been boosted by a powerful show of support from the government.
Sports Minister Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe personally attended a training session at the state-of-the-art, FIFA-certified Geo Pomona Waste Management facilities this week.
This visit, alongside other government and SRC officials, was a clear signal that the nation is rallying behind them.
Ndoro expressed gratitude to the minister before thanking the Geo Pomona leadership for providing their top-tier facilities, which CEO Dilesh Nguwaya said was part of their corporate social responsibility.
"I'm happy that Simba Bhora accepted our offer to use the facility," said Geo Pomona CEO Dilesh Nguwaya. "This is a facility that is FIFA-certified... It's our small way of supporting the team that will be representing our great country."
While Simba Bhora is the favorite to advance, the path to continental glory is steep.
Should they overcome Nsingizini Hotspurs, a monumental clash awaits against the Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the first round.
A victory in that tie would catapult them into the lucrative group stages and place them firmly among Africa’s elite.
As the team prepares to plunge into the unknown, they carry with them the hopes of a nation hungry for a victory.
Ndoro and his team know the weight on their shoulders.
"I just want to assure the football loving Zimbabweans that we won't let them down," he promised.
"As Simba Bhora, we are still a young club in the sense that this is only our third season in the top flight league. In those three years we are satisfied with the strides that we have made. When we started this project, we out up a five year plan to make sure that we make an impact in the African Safari so we are happy with our progress so far. We are in the right direction in as far as meeting our objectives is concerned. We will be going out there to compete and hoping we will qualify to the group stages of the competition."
Simba Bhora are ready to show their power and strength not just for themselves, but for every fan waiting for a reason to smile again.
