Tendai Gukutikwa
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
BILLY Rautenbach-bankrolled GreenFuel FC have never defeated Manica Diamonds since their promotion into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and Saturday (tomorrow) presents yet another opportunity for the ethanol producers to break the jinx as the two top-flight clubs clash at the GreenFuel Arena in Chisumbanje.
The match starts at 3pm.
Both GreenFuel FC and Manica Diamonds are products of the Eastern Region, but somehow the Gem Boys have always got the better of the former, even during their season long stint in the second tier Eastern Region Division One League.
The only time that Boys DzeNharo, as GreenFuel are fondly referred to in the Lowveld, beat Manica Diamonds was in the Mbada Diamonds Cup match played back then in the lower Eastern Region Division One League.
All the other matches that the two teams played, both in the Eastern Region Division One and in the Castle Lager Premiership, ended in Manica Diamonds’ favour or draws.
This makes tomorrow’s encounter potentially explosive and entertaining, given that it is, not only the three points at stake, but bragging rights too.
GreenFuel FC assistant coach, Godfrey Tamirepi, is acutely aware of the significance of securing three points against Manica Diamonds.
“We have dropped too many points at home and need to make amends by beating our bogey side, whom we have never defeated since our promotion to the league. We feel the time has come to turn our fortunes around,” he said.
Indeed, GreenFuel FC have squandered points in home matches, including their recent stalemate against Highlanders.
The upcoming clash between GreenFuel and Manica Diamonds adds pressure on both teams, as they are currently separated by just two points, with Manica Diamonds holding a slender advantage.
The mathematics are straightforward – victory for Manica Diamonds will widen the gap, while a GreenFuel win will see them leapfrog their opponents on the log standings.
Tamirepi is mindful of this: “We are looking forward to the clash, and a glance at the log standings reveals little separating the two teams. They are currently a place above us, so a victory will see us overtaking them, making the battle intriguing.”
Manica Diamonds face GreenFuel FC amidst a slump in form, having dropped points, both home and away.
Although they earned a creditable 1-1 draw against high-flying MWOS at Ngoni Stadium in Norton last Thursday, the Gem Boys are aware of the urgent need to start collecting maximum points in their league matches.
Their lean spell began with a 1-4 defeat to Simba Bhora, and since then, Manica Diamonds have failed to win a league encounter, settling for draws instead.
In other Premiership fixtures, Triangle, under the guidance of Genesis Mangome, host Dynamos at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
Struggling giants, CAPS United entertain Herentals at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow.
Highlanders, the best-performing side among the country’s traditional Big Three, face FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo in a highly anticipated MatchDay 11 clash
Online Reporter