Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Emmanuel Ziocha moved to champions Simba Bhora, it triggered a lot of speculation.
Some said he was going for the money, others said it was good riddance, others felt it was an ill-advised move while there are some who wanted him to stay at DeMbare.
He joined his former DeMbare teammate Donald Mudadi and coach Joel Luphahla at Simba. Luphahla feels he needed to complete his project to transform Ziocha into the footballer he wants him to become.
“I felt that if I left him just like that, I would have done him injustice because that is an unfinished project,” said Luphahla.
“Do not get me wrong, I am not saying his previous coaches were not good but every coach sees something different when they look at a player.
“I saw something huge in Ziocha, and this is what I wanted to bring out, so his move was based on that and not finances.”
The gaffer said Ziocha has a strong telepathic bond with Mudadi.
“He knows how to set up Mudadi for the perfect shots while Mudadi has a good positioning instinct and courage to attempt scoring from afar.
“However, they will have to fight to make it onto the team, the fact that we are reuniting here does not make them any superior.”
Luphahla’s first task will be the Mayor’s Cheer Fund tournament and then the Castle Challenge Cup against Dynamos at Wadzanai next month.
Last season, under the guidance of Tonderai Ndiraya, Simba Bhora only lost once at home (0-2) against FC Platinum, when they had already been crowned champions.
“It will not be an easy task. Being a head coach has always been my plan and when I joined Dynamos, I made that clear.
“I told them that I was doing my CAF badges and once I finished I was targeting the hot seat so when the opportunity came, I left.
“There is no bad blood, I left on good terms just as we had discussed and agreed to when I took the job.”
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