Online Reporter
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
Manica Diamonds…… (1)1
Bikita Minerals………. (0)0
MANICA Diamonds secured safety from demotion with a precious 1-0 victory that condemned Bikita Minerals to Division One in a battle of the miners whose result was part of the Premiership relegation jigsaw puzzle at Sakubva this afternoon.
Evans Katema’s strike barely two minutes into the game with his side’s first attack carried the day for the Gem Boys.
The veteran forward benefited from a tame clearance to rifle the ball home from close range.
Manica Diamonds caretaker coach Tafadzwa Mashiri described the result as huge relief.
“We were under immense pressure going into the match but managed to get a victory that ensures our safety. It brings us great relief because we survived to fight another season.
“The early goal we scored helped us to settle and I am happy with the way the boys managed the game as our opponents creating more chances,” said Mashiri.
Despite the early setback, Bikita Minerals grew into the game and were the better side going for the breather.
They continued dominating in the second half, coming close to finding the target twice as their efforts cannoned off the crossbar.
Tactical substitutions by coach Wilson Mutekede could not yield the desired results as the equaliser remained elusive.
Mutekede felt their second half performance merited a goal.
“We conceded early by giving away a soft goal and paid dearly for that. At this level of the game you get punished for that.
“Our display in the second half deserved to be rewarded as we created more chances but were nit clinical. Overall, I am happy with how our young team played throughout the season as we had our own problems away from the pitch and there are also results in about eight matches that did not go our way,” said Mutekede.
Bikita Minerals join Kwekwe United, Yadah Stars and GreenFuel as the relegated teams.
