Online Reporter
Ray Bande in Mutare
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MANICA DIAMONDS shook off a flat first half to sink GreenFuel 2-1 at Sakubva Stadium yesterday, a victory that sharpens their fight to stay in the Castle Lager Premiership.
The Gem Boys were unconvincing early on, giving away possession and misplacing passes, and GreenFuel carved out clear chances. Garikai Dematsika dragged a Ronald Chitiyo cross wide and Harrison Masina burst through only to miss by inches after 11 minutes. Manica striker Cloud Mapoka also wasted a free look on goal just before the half hour.
Coach Tafadzwa Mashiri reshaped his side at the break, bringing in Evans Katema, Fortune Binzi and Charles Teguru. The changes worked. In the 64th minute Binzi’s sharp run drew a foul from Honest Moyo, and Katema buried the penalty to put the hosts in front.
Katema sealed it in the 90th minute, lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Tatenda Chikowero and rolling it into an empty net. GreenFuel, known as Boys DzeNharo, pulled one back deep into stoppage time when Adrian Sila converted a penalty after Nigel Mupanduki’s clumsy shove, but the fightback came too late.
Referee Trinity Dirwai and his assistants earned rare praise in a season plagued by officiating controversies, keeping control and avoiding any major errors.
“This is a huge relief after two weeks without a win,” Mashiri said. “The substitutions changed the complexion of the game. We’ll keep fighting until the end.”
GreenFuel assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi admitted his side “came back in a low gear” after halftime. “We allowed our opponents to claw back and they got the goals they wanted. We missed chances we should have buried,” he said.
The result steadies Manica Diamonds’ survival push and gives their fans renewed hope as the season enters the decisive stretch.
