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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICALAND is fast getting used to top-flight league derbies, and this weekend will see two of its representatives in the Castle Lager Premier League — Manica Diamonds and GreenFuel — crossing swords of supremacy when the two clubs clash at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle in a 2023 season reverse fixture.
The potentially explosive provincial derby is set for tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm.
Even though the two teams have been using Gibbo Stadium in Masvingo province, Manica Diamonds is based in Manicaland’s provincial capital of Mutare, while GreenFuel is based in Chisumbanje under Chipinge District in the same province.
The previous Castle Lager Premiership season saw Mutare-based duo of Manica Diamonds and the now relegated, Tenax FC clashing in the first ever Premiership derby for Manicaland Province.
Manicaland Province never had two teams in the Premier Soccer League since independence until Tenax and Manica Diamonds played in the domestic top-flight league season of 2022.
In the past, it had been Tanganda FC, Buffaloes, Mutare City Rovers, Dongo FC and Manica Diamonds playing in the country’s top-flight league football, one after the other.
“It is going to be a closely contested match. We use the same venue as our home ground. They have been watching our matches for some time and they also have a very good technical set-up.
“We respect them a lot. They have been in a very fine form so far, but you know, we also need to do well to collect the three points, so whoever plays better will get maximum points,” said Manica Diamond gaffer, Jairos Tapera.
According to the Manica Diamonds coach, the 12th man factor will not be an issue in the derby.
“Not really, like l said they also use the same venue as their home ground and they train there sometimes. Manica Diamonds only goes there on match days only. So I do not think the issue of the supporters on the terraces will be a factor to determine what will go on in the field of play,” said Tapera.
According to Tapera, not even the result from the reverse fixture, which saw Manica Diamonds prevailing, thanks to a slender 2-1 triumph over the ethanol producers will matter this time around.
“I think this is a different ball game altogether. So many things have changed since the last time we played against them, so the result from the reverse fixture will have no bearing to what will transpire on Saturday,” said the former FC Platinum gaffer.
His opposite number, Rodwell Dhlakama, said they are aware of what is at stake in Saturday’s Manicaland derby and they will strive to collect maximum points.
“Our aims in this competition are different, but the similarity from both ends is that we all need maximum points for different reasons. For Manica Diamonds, as I see it, missing out on the title race will be a failure, and for us being relegated will be failure.
“Therefore, it is an important encounter for both clubs. We both need maximum points. We are confident that we will get the result that we want, but what is also obvious is that it will not be an easy encounter for both teams,” said the former Monomotapa coach.
Elsewhere in the domestic top-flight league, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log leaders, Highlanders face another stern test of character when they clash with city rivals, Chicken Inn in a Bulawayo derby set for Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
The Bulawayo giants, who suffered their first loss of the season last week on Saturday to FC Platinum have no time to lick their wounds as they face their bitter rivals and the 2015 champions for a PSL Match-Day 22 encounter.
The two sides played out to a goalless draw in the reverse encounter, but Highlanders know all too well that they must be at their best to return to winning ways against a side they have failed to beat since 2019.
Highlanders go into the encounter on top of the log with 41 points, while Chicken Inn are nine points behind and in fifth position.
Action, however, starts on Saturday as defending champions, FC Platinum will be looking forward to build momentum after a giant-killing act.
They will face troubled Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve Stadium, while relegation-haunted Cranborne Bullets host giants Dynamos at Nyamhunga Stadium.
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