SIMBA Bhora head coach Mandla Mpofu is demanding a swift end to his side’s goal-scoring drought, urging his players to find their clinical edge after a wretched start to the campaign.
The former champions, currently languishing in 11th place in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with nine points, have found the back of the net just twice in their opening seven matches.
Only bottom-placed Manica Diamonds have a worse record in front of goal.
The pressure is mounting on the former Highlanders coach, who watched in agony as his side squandered a succession of good chances against MWOS on Monday.
In a cruel twist typical of their season so far, they were eventually punished for their profligacy, losing 1-0 courtesy of an own goal.
Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Mpofu laid bare his disappointment at the team’s inability to convert dominance into points.
“We are lacking the cutting edge,” he lamented.
“We are not scoring goals and it’s something that I’ve been talking about.”
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Despite the poor run of form, Mpofu insists he is not yet reaching for the panic button, pointing to the team’s ability to unlock defences as a sign of hope.
“If it was the case of us not creating opportunities, it’s something that I was going to be worried about.
“But we are creating those opportunities, only that we are not clinical in front of goals.
“We are getting opportunities that, on a good day, a very good striker should be able to finish them off.”
The match against MWOS served as a microcosm of Simba Bhora’s season.
Claude Mapoka wasted a glorious opportunity in the first half, while second-half substitutes Tapiwa Mandinyenya and McCartney Naweseb were equally wasteful, missing chances that seemed easier to score than miss.
“I’m just disappointed in the way we are dropping points because of the chances we are missing.
“But I think we will get it right. We can build up from our performances going forward.”
The atmosphere at Ngoni Stadium turned hostile following the final whistle, with a section of the fans openly venting their frustration and some even calling for the coach’s dismissal.
However, Mpofu is pleading for calm as he navigates this turbulent period.
“We are still a good team. We are still a championship team.
“We will redeem ourselves, bounce back and make sure that we collect points going forward.”
The one bright spark in an otherwise gloomy afternoon was the cameo appearance of teenager Cole Tsamba.
The young winger injected the much-needed energy into the attack, terrorising the MWOS defence with direct runs and carving out the chance that Naweseb ultimately squandered.
Mpofu admitted he may have waited too long to throw the youngster into the fray.
“I should have introduced him earlier. I should have maybe given him more minutes, yes.
“He was very, very impressive. When he came in, there was a little bit of agency up front.
“With a little bit of luck, we might have gotten a goal. He is a future player.
“He will get more minutes going forward, especially after what we saw.
“There is no coach who cannot play this youngster with what he did in the few minutes that he played.
“He needs more minutes and he will get more game time.”
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier, but it does offer a chance for redemption.
Next up for Simba Bhora is a Mashonaland Central derby against newly-promoted Agama this Sunday — a fixture that has now become a must-win for Mpofu.
Agama have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight, sitting second from the bottom with just one point.
They are among five teams still searching for their first win of the season and, like Simba Bhora, have managed a paltry two goals in seven games.
On Sunday, two goal-shy giants of the region will collide, and one side must find its scoring touch, or both may find themselves sinking further into the mire.
Castle Lager Matchday 8 fixtures
Saturday: Herentals v Hunters (Rufaro)
Sunday: Agama v Simba Bhora (Wadzanayi), Caps United v TelOne (Rufaro), Triangle v Manica Diamonds (Gibbo), FC Platinum v MWOS (Mandava), Hardrock v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Chahwanda)
Wednesday: Scottland v Dynamos (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo Chiefs (Nyamhunga)
