Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
DESPITE being touted as one of the strongest teams in the 2025 Castle Lager Premiership season, Mutare-based Manica Diamonds find themselves languishing in the relegation zone, a mere three points shy of
ninth-placed Highlanders.
This stark disparity between expectation and reality has left fans, players, and the executive committee bewildered.
The Gem Boys’ woes prompted the recent dismissal of coach, Jairos ‘JT’ Tapera, replaced by Tafadzwa Mashiri on a caretaker basis.
As the team struggles to regain footing, the question on everyone’s mind is – what went wrong along the way?
However, all hope is not lost!
With 22 points, Manica Diamonds are within striking distance of mid-table safety.
Two consecutive wins could catapult them up the rankings, alleviating some pressure.
As the season enters its crucial phase, the Gem Boys are taking a metaphorical ‘deep breath time’ – a psychological technique, often employed to calm nerves, self-introspect, relax and refocus – may be just what
the team needs to recharge and mount a comeback.
Can Manica Diamonds rediscover their sparkle and salvage their season? Only time will tell.
No wonder their coach, Mashiri, believes a paradigm shift is essential at Manica Diamonds to psych up of players who appear demotivated, judging by their body language.
“More work is needed on the mental side of the team to keep believing that it can be done. Confidence and self-belief should be continuously instilled in the team. What is needed most is team cohesion and unity of purpose to work towards a breakthrough, starting with our next match. We badly need to start collecting maximum points,” he said.
Following Sunday’s 1-1 stalemate against log leaders, Simba Bhora, Manica Diamonds have now gone nine consecutive rounds of Castle Lager Premiership matches without a win.
Their last victory was a slender 1-0 triumph over Triangle on MatchDay 13. Since then, the Gem Boys have suffered losses to Caps United, Highlanders, and Bikita Minerals, and drawn against Ngezi Platinum.
Manica Diamonds’ struggles continued with a 0-1 loss to Highlanders at Barboufields Stadium in Bulawayo, followed by another one-nil defeat at the hands of Bikita Minerals. The team also suffered a similar
scoreline loss to Yadah Stars before their match against FC Platinum was postponed due to the death of the platinum miners’ captain, Brian Banda.
Upon resuming action, Manica Diamonds played out a goalless draw with ZPC Kariba, only to suffer a humiliating one-nil defeat at the hands of Herentals FC at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.
The ZCDC-financed side then earned a point on the road against struggling Dynamos in Harare, before returning home to secure another draw with log leaders, Simba Bhora.
This winless streak had previously been halted by a one-nil triumph over Triangle on MatchDay 13, ending a seven-match winless run that began with a 1-4 thrashing by Simba Bhora.
Mashiri acknowledged that his team is navigating unfamiliar territory.
“We are in a very unfamiliar position. We have to first take responsibility as a team and then work out ways to get out of the murky waters.
“It is an achievable task that needs lots of reflection and introspection coupled with hard work at the training ground right through to the match day,” he said.
