Tutani ready to tackle Premiership ghost
Eddie Chikamhi - Herald Senior Sports Reporter
ARTHUR Tutani, who has proved himself an aristocrat of Division One football in this country, is on cloud nine after clinching another title in the second-tier and working his way back to the topflight football with Simba Bhora.
It has been eight long years since his last dance with Premiership football. And for Simba Bhora this will be their first time in the club’s 14-year history.
As the mining town of Shamva warms up to the reality of Premiership football coming their way next season, their coach Tutani already has his hands on the deck plotting how to survive the pitfalls that have haunted him in the past.
He has walked the road before when he led Sporting Lions and Mwana Africa to the Premiership at the turn of the millennium.
He added another feather to his cap with the 3-0 thumping of Commando Bullets at their favourite Wadzanai Stadium on Saturday as Simba Bhora took their tally to an assailable 72 points in the ZIFA Northern Region Division One.
The success put him at par with the likes of Bigboy Mawiwi, Lloyd Mutasa, John Nyikadzino and Nesbert Saruchera, in this elite group of coaches that have won the Division One league title three times each.
His experience with premiership football is never a subject of discussion, also having had stints with clubs such as Monomotapa, Eagles and army side Black Rhinos, where he held his last Premiership job in 2014.
In contrast to his revered status in Division One football, Tutani has not been able to switch the gear up when it comes to Premier Soccer League football. The harsh ones would choose to call him a failure.
However, the nomadic gaffer yesterday told The Herald that he has garnered so much experience in his two decades of coaching and is hoping for better fortunes with Simba Bhora, who are expected to welcome the likes of Dynamos, FC Platinum, CAPS United and Chicken Inn for the first time at Wadzanai next year.
“It’s been a long time since I left Premiership football. After my stint with Black Rhinos, I never thought I would coach in the topflight league again, but here I am today.
“Sure, I have had some bad memories and good ones as well with Premiership football, just like anyone else in my position. But in life we learn new things every day. I sat down to find out what exactly was going wrong with my teams and I have been working on that.
“PSL football is not a stroll in the park. What I have realised especially with Premiership competition is that you need to win all your games at home and then strive to get at least a point away.
“If you fail to win at home, then you will be literally digging up your grave.
“So, like I said, I have learnt from my experiences and I don’t think I will get it wrong again this time. I am sure there will be massive excitement in Shamva when we begin our campaign next year. Football has become too scientific these days and I think I am up for the task,” said Tutani.
Tutani and his charges were saluted by the ecstatic home crowds before they were handed medals and the trophy by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Tino Machakaire.
This is the first time a team from Shamva has qualified for the Premier Soccer League.
Simba Bhora stood their ground in the face of cut-throat competition from the likes of Herentals Under-20 and Golden Eagles who finished close second and third.
“I must say the road was bumpy. The journey was difficult as we faced stiff competition from Golden Eagles and Herentals. But it was not only those two. Generally, Division One football in this country is tough.
“Good for us, I think in August, when everything was shaping up for all the teams, we played some good football and we managed to get some points from the two key games against Eagles and Herentals,” said Tutani. He said Simba Bhora are hoping to make their mark in the topflight league.
“When I arrived at Simba Bhora, everyone that you met in the town would tell me that they wanted Premiership football in Shamva.
“I agreed with them on that but I told them that it was not going to be easy without their support. I am glad they were very supportive and we managed to achieve the goal of getting promotion.
“I am also grateful to the owners and management of the team for walking with me each step of the way. I just hope and pray we will continue on that path and achieve success in the PSL as well,” said Tutisani.
The Simba Bhora technical team and management are expected to sit down and start planning for the new challenge in the Premiership.
“Just like any other team, we will do an inventory where they look back at the journey that we have travelled and also to plan ahead. So likewise we are bound to sit down and obviously we will also need to beef up our squad in order to survive the competition in PSL.
“Mark my words, as Simba Bhora we are not coming to the PSL to add numbers. Understandably, the first thing is to establish ourselves and then with time make sure we are there to stay.
“So we will sit down with the management of the club to see which areas need to be worked on and which areas need beefing up."
Source: The Herald
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