Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
AFTER last year’s ill-fated preseason shopping spree, in which Mutare’s top-flight outfit, Manica Diamonds, went on a hyperactive transfer-market binge only to assemble what critics dubbed “an old people’s home,” the Gem Boys are charting a refreshing new course.
That experiment left the club battling tooth and nail to avoid relegation, but ahead of the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, the team has returned to the basics—carefully blending youthful energy with seasoned experience in a bid to restore competitiveness.
Post Sport can reveal that Manica Diamonds have secured the services of several promising recruits.
Among them is highly-rated forward, Nokutenda Mangezi, who once had a stint with South Africa’s Supersport United.
The club has also snapped up Bikita Minerals trio, Biggie Temera, left-back Pascal Shumbaimwe, and Fitzgerald Banda.
Former Highlanders midfielder, Arthur Ndlovu joins the fold, alongside FC Platinum’s Polyester Shoko, Yadah striker, Tanaka Chikumba, and Kelvin Bingala, who previously featured for Botswana’s Orapa.
Completing the list are Marlon Maziriri from Harare City and Darryl Zulu, a rising talent from Rusununguko High School.
While head coach, Tafadzwa Mashiri may not yet boast a proven track record in the trenches of top-flight football, his recruitment strategy is already turning heads.
Unlike last season’s reliance on fading veterans, Mashiri appears intent on prioritising raw talent and potential over big names.
It is a bold approach that signals a shift in philosophy—one that could breathe new life into the Gem Boys.
Contrast this with the previous technical department’s puzzling decisions.
For reasons that remain unclear, the club placed its faith in a group of ageing players whose best years were clearly behind them.
The likes of Emmanuel Mandiranga, Evans Katema, and Clive Dzingai, among others, had long passed their peak, yet they were entrusted with carrying the team.
While Katema’s recruitment could have been a bit understandable given his goal poaching instincts, the payer did not live up to those expectations and Mandiranga only played three match before being injured and never returned to the field of play.
The result was a squad that lacked pace, dynamism, and the hunger needed to compete at the highest level.
This season, however, Manica Diamonds seem determined to avoid repeating those mistakes.
By blending youthful recruits with experienced campaigners, the club is laying the foundation for a more balanced and competitive side.
The infusion of fresh legs promises energy and ambition, while the presence of seasoned professionals should provide guidance and stability.
For supporters, the new-look squad offers hope that the Gem Boys can move beyond survival mode and begin to challenge meaningfully in the league. Mashiri’s gamble on talent over reputation may yet prove to be the masterstroke that redefines Manica Diamonds’ identity in the Premier Soccer League.
Manica Diamonds chairman, Masimba Chihowa, confirmed the latest recruitments.
“We gave the technical department the leeway to get the players that suit their plans and they did just that. It is important to note that selection of players is the duty of the technical department and not for us as an executive.
“We can only give guidance where need be, but the recruitment process belongs to the technical department and as a club we have always respected their role.
“We are happy that the new players have joined camp and they seem to be blending well with the ones that have already been at the club,” said the Chancellor Junior head.
Chihowa said the club is now on a rebuilding path where a top eight finish is the priority.
“We look forward to a successful season. We are rebuilding and we need to be realistic considering what went through last season. A top eight finish is realistic.
“Yes, we would want to go all the way to snatch the title in this league, after all, that is the ambition of every team in the league, but at the end of the day we just need to be realistic with our goals. We need to analyse where we are coming from, where we are and where we are possibly going,” said Chihowa.
Post Sport also understands that there is a list of players that want out of the club including Dzingai, goalkeeper, Tedious Baye, Nigel Mpanduki, Riansom Pavari, Tinotenda Murasiranwa, Katema and David Chipo.
Manica Diamonds ended last season on 10th position after surviving the relegation chop on the last day of the season when eight teams got to the final round of league fixtures facing the possibility of getting relegated from the top flight league.
