Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Castle Lager Premiership 2025 relegation survivors, Manica Diamonds, will be off to Triangle for a 10-day preseason camp where they hope to start gelling and building a formidable side that will be able to attain a top four finish.
With the way they ended the 2025 season, where they survived the chop on the last day of the season, finishing the season on 10th position, much is now expected from Manica Diamonds during the off-season in terms of participation on the market.
The Mutare Premier Soccer League side faces real risk of getting their 2026 season dampened early in the first three fixtures when they will be facing teams that have the domestic top-flight league title in their cabinets.
In the opening round of the Castle Lager Premiership fixtures, Manica Diamonds face 2024 champions, Simba Bhora at Sakubva Stadium, before the diamond miners travel to Zvishavane for a date against four-time top flight league winners, FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.
The Tafadzwa Mashiri-coached outfit will come back at home against reigning Castle Lager Premiership champions, Scottland FC.
These three matches will give a stern analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Manica Diamonds Class of 2026 as well as have a bearing on how the team will fare in the oncoming season.
Club chairman, Masimba Chihowa, who confirmed that the team will be leaving Mutare on Monday to Triangle, believes they have done all that it takes to enable the team to achieve a top four finish.
“We are going to be sending the team to Triangle for a 10-day preseason training camp where we hope they will be able to use the time to gel and improve on bonding. We want to take them off their usual schedules so that they concentrate on their work, while improving on their relationships as a unit. We have no doubt that this is a worthwhile initiative. As an executive, we have done all that we could to help the coaches and the players achieve our goals as a team. For the oncoming season, we are expecting to finish among the top four. Yes, the coach might have talked about a top eight finish, being realistic, but we are of the view that we belong to the top four,” said Chihowa.
Manica Diamonds have done their part on the off-season transfer market.
Former Highlanders defender, Arthur Ndlovu, is expected to bring experience and stability to the diamonds miners’ backline, having been a key figure for Bosso in domestic competitions.
His arrival strengthens Manica Diamonds as they prepare for the upcoming season, with hopes of challenging for top honours in local football.
Highly-rated forward, Nokutenda Mangezi, who once had a stint with South African side, Supersport United, is also part of the Manica Diamonds camp for the 2026 season.
The club has also snapped up Bikita Minerals trio of Biggie Temera, left-back, Pascal Shumbaimwe, and Fitzgerald Banda, 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.
Mashiri said they are working round the clock to assemble a competitive team.
“The first port of call will be to assemble a team that will compete. We need to be very realistic in setting our targets as a team and as a club. This upcoming season should be one to stabilise things such that we find our feet. More effort should be channelled towards fostering a culture of teamwork, hard work, and unparalleled commitment to the badge. At no given time should anyone doubt our commitment as a team,” he said.
Mashiri said he is looking forward to ensuring that they keep a 100 percent record at their home ground – Sakubva Stadium.
“We also need to reignite a culture of making Sakubva our fortress. Our primary season goal is to be a competitive team that does not fight relegation,” said Mashiri.
