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Nkosilathi Sibanda at Luveve Stadium
Arenel 0-1 Manica Diamonds
IT was a diamond shining brightly again for Manica Diamonds in the midweek fixture against Arenel Movers, winning one nil, marking four consecutive victories in the Castle Lager Premiership today.
The Gem Boys struck their opener in the 55th minute as Farai Banda went high, eyeing the ball off a corner kick from Thubelihle Jubane and netted it well, beating Arenel Movers’ goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya.
The hosts did not recover from that moment, although at the start of the match they had looked the better side, making forays in to enemy territory.
Notably, Arenel Movers would rue chances created by Grant Chingwenhese whose pass got to Kudzaishe Dzingwe’s boots but the effort yielded nothing.
Moments later Njabulo Ngwenya saw his freekick from just outside the box hit the defensive wall.
There was little the two teams did in terms of creating chances and it is no surprise the match only had one goal.
For Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera, in his post-match comment said it was a match well played and had more respect for how their opponents played.
“The win doesn’t reflect the fight that was between the two teams. I respect the Arenel Movers team. I think they were more organised in terms of defending, they fought right through but overall I think we were much better in the first 20 to 30 minutes but we were sluggish and had to re-adjust the movement of our players, we have good wingers and in terms of defending I think so far so good, three or four games without conceding.
“We were so much organised in terms of defending but, when going forward our transition was excellent. We had some chances that I thought we might have scored but I’m very content,” said Tapera.
The losing coach, Farai Tawachera was visibly disappointed. He felt bad losing at home.
“I think we were not there. Fatigue is now creeping into our players considering that we were in Kariba previously. The distance is long, we tried to rest on Monday, prepare on Tuesday and Wednesday but nothing much, we have got limited resources in terms of players. We tried to shuffle players today but we didn’t click.
The guys who came in the second half, haven’t played much, so we were trying to see if their legs are fresh by throwing them in there but, the rhythm wasn’t there and the cohesion to play as a team wasn’t there.
“We played in the second half but, we were not good at all. So in football if you don’t utilise your chances some will take them and that’s the difference. Overally, I think we were not there, we just have to go back and push,” he said.
Teams
Arenel Movers:
A Ngwenya, K Dzingwe, D Magaiza, A Ndlovu, M Jackson, G Chigwenhese, B Jaravaza (Mukuli 55), Z Dambo (A Nyoni 89), T Banda, C Machisi (J Sibanda 55), B Ngwenya (G Kufandada 61)
Manica Diamonds:
G Chitsumba, L Masibhera, F Banda, T Chisi, E Karembo, T Jubane, J Takunda, K Dhemera (B Amindu 61), G Bero (Teguru 61), T Macheka (M Tapera 46), F Binzi (G Dematsika 89). – @NkosieLegend
Online Reporter