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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
NEWLY appointed Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera, believes that performance matters more than age in player selection, but admits that his new team needs as many young players as possible to fuse with those in the twilight zone of their careers.
Tapera, who was at Triangle FC in the Lowveld before his latest appointment, replaced Johanisi Nhumwa as the head coach at Manica Diamonds early this week.
The former Young Warriors coach will open his account at Manica Diamonds with an away fixture against relegation threatened ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium tomorrow (Saturday).
Nhumwa, who started the season with so much promise as he, not only spent weeks on top of the table, but also posting memorable results such as the 6-1 drubbing of CAPS United at Sakubva Stadium, was fired on Monday this week after a string of poor results which saw the club’s performance plummeting with each passing week.
To date, the club is on a distant 10th position on the table.
Tapera now faces the mammoth task of planning for next season knowing very well that much is expected from him by the hard to please football fans in Manicaland.
“We are here basically to familiarise with the players, the administration as well as fans and every other stakeholder.
As we play the remaining five matches of the season, we are looking forward to get an understanding of the players we have and see how best we can plan for next season.
“I am aware that this is a big challenge to be at Manica Diamonds. Much is expected from us. Much it is a big challenge, it is exciting as well,” he said.
Asked whether players on the wrong side of 30 could be offloaded given his experience in working with young players even at junior national team level, Tapera maintained that performance matters more.
He, however, admitted that young players are needed for the sake of the future of the club.
“We want to give every player an opportunity to justify their presence in the club. It is unfortunate that we are coming in at a time when six players are injured, but we will see how best we can manage the situation in order to see how we can assemble a competitive outfit.
“My thinking is that we will bring in new players if the ones that are there do not meet our expectations. If we are satisfied with the current crop of players at Manica Diamonds, there will be no need to have new ones.
“I cannot say much about age. All I need is a player who performs up to my expectation. Yes, it is important to have young players because they ensure continuity and consistence for a longer time which is good for the club, but that does not necessarily shut the door for older player.
“I am aware that older players are there only for instant results without anything for the future, but if one is performing well he is equally needed because results are also important,” he said.
In the remaining matches, Tapera will be in the Manica Diamonds dugout against ZPC Kariba tomorrow (Saturday) away at Nyamhunga Stadium before the Gem Boys host Harare City at Sakubva Stadium.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) bankrolled outfit will then entertain Black Rhinos away at Vengere Stadium in Rusape.
In the last two round of league fixtures, Manica Diamonds will date Ngezi Platinum at home in Sakubv Stadium before the curtain comes down on the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premiership season with a local derby against Tenax C.S FC at Sakubva Stadium.
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