Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE resumption of Castle Lager Premiership action this weekend will see Mutare outfit, Manica Diamonds FC renewing their fight against relegation when they take on Ngezi Platinum FC at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday.
Since their promotion into the top-flight, Manica Diamonds have beaten Ngezi Platinum only once, thanks to last year’s one-nil triumph at Sakubva Stadium.
All the other encounters involving the two teams ended in either draws or defeat for the Mutare-based club.
Manica Diamonds, who have endured a forgettable 2026 season, are deep in the relegation zone and their mathematical chances of surviving will only be made practical by winning Sunday’s clash against the platinum miners.
To their credit, Manica Diamonds have widened the gap between them and Premiership basement outfit, Triangle United FC by four points, and kept the gap between them and teams above them in the relegation zone to three points.
Eight rounds of league matches remain before the curtain comes down on the 2026 season, and the not-so-shiny Gem Boys might be ending their six-year flirtation with top-flight football if they continue dropping points, especially when playing at home.
Coach, Hebert ‘Jompano’ Maruwa, reckons that the match against Ngezi Platinum is a must win encounter.
The former Black Rhinos, TelOne and Dynamos coach is happy with the progress that the club has made since he joined the Mutare Premiership outfit.
“We are playing Ngezi Platinum FC as we return from the cup matches that we played. Basically, I am happy with the performance of the team in recent matches.
“I am also happy that we managed to progress in one of the cup competitions. The boys are gelling well as a team, and that gives me confidence that we will achieve our set target, that of evading relegation,” he said.
Maruwa is aware that Sunday’s match is a must win encounter.
“Ngezi Platinum FC are a good team, and they are playing well, but we will not read too much into that as we have our own game plan and ambitions to achieve. The match against Ngezi Platinum FC is a must win for us,” said Maruwa.
After hosting Ngezi Platinum on Sunday in this tricky Castle Lager Premiership encounter, Manica Diamonds will entertain Agama FC away from home.
In their next assignment, the Maruwa-coached team will face Hunters before clashing with TelOne FC.
After that, the remaining four league matches will see Manica Diamonds facing Highlanders, Bulawayo Chiefs, Dynamos and MWOS, before the curtain comes down on the 2026 season.
With 24 points to play for in these remaining eight rounds of league matches, Manica Diamonds are still entertaining hopes of evading the chop at the end of the season.
But with each passing week that they fail to collect maximum points, be it at home or away from home, that reasonable hope fades away like morning dew!
