Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICA Diamonds’ newly appointed coach, Herbert “Jombano” Maruwa, remains optimistic that the club can avoid relegation and re-establish itself among Zimbabwean football’s elite, provided everyone at the club works towards the same goal.
Maruwa got his first glimpse of his new team in action as the Gem Boys ground out a crucial 1-0 victory over ZPC Kariba at Sakubva Stadium last Sunday.
While the win boosted morale, it did little to improve the club’s precarious position on the Premier Soccer League standings.
The Mutare-based side remains entrenched in the relegation zone with just 16 points from 21 matches, having managed only three wins and seven draws so far this season.
Defensive frailties have compounded their struggles. Manica Diamonds have conceded 20 goals — the highest tally in the league — leaving them with a goal difference of minus 20, worse even than bottom-placed regional rivals Triangle United.
Despite the daunting statistics, Maruwa insists the fight for survival is far from over and believes the team has enough time and quality to pull clear of danger.
“I am happy we managed to get the three points against ZPC Kariba. Yes, it is still work in progress and we are trying to build a team that will avoid relegation.
“Generally, I am happy with the progress that we have made so far. I can safely say so far so good. If we can pull in one direction, we will get it right.
“We need to keep pushing. One match at a time. This weekend we are away to Chicken Inn in Bulawayo, and we just need to keep collecting points,” said the former Dynamos, Black Rhinos and TelOne FC coach.
Maruwa has already strengthened the squad and is targeting further additions to shore up the defence.
“We need to make sure that we improve the team defensively. We all know we are one man down without captain, Farai Banda. We brought in Philip Kaseke from Kwekwe, and Carlos Mavhurume, a defender, from Simba Bhora.
“We now also have Divine Zulu, a striker from Hardrock FC. We also promoted Kupakwashe Chitukutuku from our Under-19 side.
“We are still working on strengthening our team. We are hoping to get one or two more players to help us achieve our mission of evading relegation,” said Maruwa.
The Mutare outfit has endured a turbulent 2026 campaign, appointing Maruwa as its fourth head coach of the season after parting ways with Patrick Mandizha.
A poor run of results saw former sponsors, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) withdrawing their sponsorship due to financial constraints.
A takeover by businessman, Evans Kamombo, briefly revived fortunes as results improved, but the club soon reverted to type and began dropping points weekly, prompting the latest coaching change.
Perhaps Maruwa’s pedigree in rescuing struggling sides will again prove decisive. Just over a year after taking charge of TelOne when they were languishing mid-table, he transformed the Gweru-based team into serious Premier Soccer League contenders.
TelOne, affectionately known as the WIFI Boys, at one stage sat fourth on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table with 25 points, just seven behind leaders MWOS.
