hitman, Tymon Machope, has hit top form at the right time with his latest goals fuelling the Mabvuku-based club’s challenge for a maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer league title.

Machope, the lanky striker who always turns up when the going gets tough, made his debut in the topflight in July 2023 and by the end of the season, he had scored seven goals helping then new-boys Simba Bhora survive relegation.

He, however, started slowly in 2024, prompting some to label him a fluke but picked up form at the right time and scored crucial goals as Simba Bhora won the league title, with the striker contributing 11 goals.

2025 saw Machope switching to Scottland and once again started on a slow note, scoring just five times in the first 22 games.

He was, however, back in the groove as the season approached the home stretch.

Machope has bagged five goals in the last three league encounters, taking his tally for the season to 10.

“As a striker, you motivate yourself. When you score, you get more confident, so I want to keep on scoring and get to hundreds,” he said.

At Scottland, he has stiff competition for a place in the starting line-up after the Mabvuku based side brought in Warriors forwards, Knowledge Musona and Terrence Dzukamanja as well as Malawian striker, Khuda Myaba.

His coach, Tonderayi Ndiraya, however, believes Machope thrives under pressure.

“He has a knack for coming good at the right time and bringing in those players has helped him because he is a man who thrives under pressure and I did not doubt his abilities,” Ndiraya stated.

In the last two and half seasons, Machope has scored 28 goals, the most in the local league during that period and is the second player after Takunda Benhura to score more than 10 goals in two consecutive seasons in the last four years.

With 10 goals to his name this season, Machope still needs to catch up with current top goals scorer Washington Navaya on 13 and Billy Veremu who now seems to be stuck on 11 goals.