Manica Diamonds shift focus to cups amid relegation fight

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
RELEGATION-THREATENED Mutare Premiership side Manica Diamonds will temporarily shift focus from the league when they face Agama in the Chibuku Super Cup and Simba Bhora in the Munhumutapa Cup.
The Herbert Maruwa-coached team are away for both fixtures, travelling to Ngoni Stadium in Norton to play Agama FC on Wednesday, before meeting Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on Saturday.
Maruwa believes the cup ties offer a timely respite as the club battles to retain its top-flight status.
He is targeting positive results in the opening rounds of both competitions.
“The cup competitions will give us a break from league action and allow us more time to prepare for our survival mission. We just want to win the first-round cup matches and take it from there,” said Maruwa.
With 24 points still to play for in the remaining eight rounds of the 2026 Castle Lager Premiership season, Manica Diamonds remain hopeful of avoiding relegation.
Their league struggles continued recently with a 0-3 defeat to expensively assembled Hardrock at Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe.