Ndiraya defends transfer policy

Langton Nyakwenda

AFTER weeks of enduring a barrage of criticism over the number of players he signed during the transfer season, Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya has expressed surprise over the response by claiming most Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs have also been active on the market.

Simba Bhora announced over 10 new signings early this year.

Critics have, however, started interrogating Ndiraya’s history on the transfer market, especially during his time at Dynamos and Ngezi.

The former Zimbabwe Under-23 coach signed scores of players during his reign at Dynamos between April 2019 and December 2022.

He was sacked at the end of the 2022 season, despite leading DeMbare to a respectable third-place finish.

Ndiraya had inherited a squad that battled against relegation in 2018 and finished ninth the following season.

When he moved to newly promoted Simba Bhora at the beginning of 2023, he acquired a few players, including Partson Jaure and Keith Murera, but the Shamva-based outfit flirted with relegation for most of their maiden season, before finishing 12th and just two points above the drop zone.

That scare prompted club owner Simba Ndoro to open the chequebook to bolster the squad.

Several players, including 2022 Soccer

Star of the Year Walter Musona, midfielder Junior Makunike, Mthokozisi Msebe, Malvin Mkolo and Billy Veremu, were lured by the club.

Goalkeepers Talbert Shumba and Taimon Mvula, Gift Saunyama and Perfect Chikwende also joined the side.

The club’s aggressive approach on the transfer market has led many pundits to consider Simba Bhora among the teams that will challenge for the championship.

However, Ndiraya remains modest as he believes a top-eight finish is a more reasonable target.

He noted that every club in the league had done some business on the transfer market.