Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ONLY a fortnight ago, Lowveld outfit, Triangle FC travelled to Mutare for the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match, and emerged victorious, dumping Manica Diamonds FC out of the country’s premier knockout top-flight league football competition.
The result left many stunned, with Manica Diamonds’ fans in a state of despair.
Fast-forward two weeks, the Genesis Mangombe-coached Triangle FC will return to Sakubva Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) for a Castle Lager Premiership league tie against Manica Diamonds.
Although Manica Diamonds won the reverse league fixture, much has changed since then, including the Manica Diamonds technical department where Tafadzwa Mashiri has taken over as interim coach following Jairos Tapera’s departure.
Notably, this match comes at a critical juncture, with both teams facing relegation at the end of the 2025 season.
Consequently, the three points at stake are invaluable.
The Eastern Region derby has always been intense, particularly when stakes are high, as is the case tomorrow.
Off the field incidents in the recent Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final tie, which saw Genesis Mangombe and a member of his backroom staff being manhandled at Sakubva Stadium on the eve of the match, have highlighted the tense atmosphere that often accompanies this derby.
However, Manica Diamonds coach, Tafadzwa Mashiri, has acknowledged that the looming threat of relegation for both teams is a significant factor heading into tomorrow’s match.
“We anticipate a fiercely contested match, given that both teams are battling relegation. Every game we play from now until the end of the season is effectively a final,” said Mashiri.
The rookie Manica Diamonds coach believes the match against Triangle is a matter of survival, with both teams fighting to maintain their top-flight status.
“We secured a win against them in the first round, while they triumphed in the Chibuku quarter-final. This upcoming match will be a dogfight for survival,” he stated.
Manica Diamonds are likely to be without some key players due to injury and illness.
“We are preparing well for the match, despite injury concerns over Emmanuel Mandiranga and Claude Mapoka, who is unwell,” said Mashiri.
Unlike previous seasons, the 2025 Castle Lager Premiership season has half of the clubs facing relegation, with their fate dependent on their performance in the remaining matches.
With Kwekwe United already relegated, several teams – including Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Manica Diamonds, Bikita Minerals, Triangle
United FC, CAPS United, GreenFuel FC, and Dynamos – are at risk of joining them
in Division One next season.
