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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
MANICA Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera can still count himself safe despite a prolonged goal drought and a win-less run that has seen the Mutare-based side veering off rails in the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership title race.
The former Warriors coach is going through a rough patch after going 10 games, spanning over a period of three months, without winning a game.
This poor run has seen the Gem Boys relinquishing their place at the top of the table. They are slowly getting out of sight in the marathon as they now trail log leaders Simba Bhora by 12 points going into the championship homestretch.
Gem Boys fans have been divided over Tapera, who some will be happy to see his back.
However, club chairman Masimba Chihowa told Zimpapers Sport that management has confidence in Tapera, who at some point this season also had a brief stint with the national team, having been appointed on account of his team’s good run.
“I think we still have about 10 or so games before the season ends and that translates to about 30 points,” said Chihowa.
“So, there is a lot to play for. I think the problems is we played too many draws and things could have been different had we converted some of them into wins.
“We know this team has potential but in football players sometimes experience burnout. I think this is what happened, but we have been doing our best behind the scenes to encourage the players and the technical team.
“Hopefully it will work out sooner rather than later. “But as a club we haven’t entertained any thoughts of firing the coach. That’s a negative way of administration. Firing coaches may not bring the desired results instantly, and then what?
“As for us, we are looking at a programme. So, we review and analyse the team’s performance continuously and try to come up with solutions to improve results.
“So far, we haven’t reached a point where we say there is a going to be an ultimatum to force for results. Of course, some clubs may do so but that’s not how we operate.
“Ultimatums tend to be disruptive and, most of the times, it becomes an unhealthy tendency to hire and fire coaches,” said Chihowa. Manica Diamonds are set to host newboys Arenel Movers at Sakubva on Sunday.
The team has not scored a goal in the last nine games despite having in their arsenal decent attacking players in the form of Michael Tapera, Tawanda Macheke, Charles Teguru, Gerald Bero, Anelka Chivandire, Bret Amidu and veteran Evans Katema, who was roped in during the mid-season window.
The Gem Boys last won a match on May 26 when they edged Hwange 1-0 at Sakubva. Assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri said they needed to work on their finishing to turnaround their fortunes.
“It’s a worrying factor whereby we are experiencing a dry spell in terms of goals. Our conversion is very poor, but we are delighted that we have got one of the best defences in the league and we need to really build on that. We need to start scoring goals and get maximum points going forward.
“Obviously the good run we had previously when we led the table, it’s us who did it, it’s the players who put up a good show and I am sure they will come around.
“I think we will turn that corner, and things will start to work for us again. We need just to be patient and continue working hard at training.
“The management is behind us and of course very anxious. They need the results as much as we do. The message is, we will do well and it’s a matter of time.
“We haven’t changed our objectives. We want a very strong finish and probably get silverware,” said Mashiri.
Fixtures
Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs v TelOne (Luveve), Yadah v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Heart Stadium), GreenFuel v CAPS Utd (GreenFuel Arena), ZPC Kariba v FC Platinum (Nyamhunga), Simba Bhora v Bikita Minerals (Wadzanayi)
Sunday: Dynamos v Chegutu Pirates (Rufaro), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery), Highlanders v Herentals (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Arenel Movers (Sakubva)
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