Pressure mounts on Stix

Oscar Rusenga in TRIANGLE

Manica Diamonds …. (0) 4

Black Rhinos ………………… 0

IT is increasingly becoming difficult not to imagine that Black Rhinos gaffer Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa will be the next Castle Lager Premier Soccer League coaching casualty.

The Zimbabwe football legend was left hugely disappointed and under increasing pressure after the soldiers were humiliated by Manica Diamonds at Gibbo yesterday.

It is Rhinos’ heaviest defeat so far this season. Speculation had already been swirling in the last two weeks that Mtizwa was due to be replaced by Rodwell Dhlakama, but debutants Green Fuel swooped on the seasoned coach.

Mtizwa, however, remains hopeful that his charges will up their tempo in the Premiership.

“It’s my heaviest defeat,” Mtizwa said afterwards.

“I have never conceded four without reply but it was expected.

“I have a youthful squad and I feel, for the first two goals, my goalkeeper could have done better but it’s a learning process for the youngsters, unfortunately, not for me.

“We will have to fight another day and, hopefully, we will come out of this position,” he said.

There was no respite though to the speculation around Mtizwa’s Rhinos future, with ex-Manica Diamonds coach Johanisi Nhumwa and his trusted lieutenant Christopher Mwanza, who are club-hunting, watching yesterday’s game.

While Rhinos’ defeat piled the misery on club legend Mtizwa, it was joy for Manica Diamonds’ in-form striker Fortune Binzi, who scored his first Premiership hat-trick, adding to the brace he grabbed in the previous assignment against ZPC Kariba.

The Gem Boys young striker also became the first man to score a hat-trick in the 2023 season.

“I want to thank my teammates because I cannot do it alone.

“This is the result of teamwork. I want to thank my coaches, who always advise me to work hard and to always be present in the opposition box,” Binzi said.

“I scored two last weekend against ZPC Kariba and today, I have done even better.

“It’s always a dream for every striker to go home with a match ball and this will surely push me to do better and my season target is now to get 10 more goals” said Binzi.

However, it was the visitors who had looked promising in the opening half before they sensationally crumbled in the second stanza.

Rhinos controlled the entire first half with better ball possession but were found wanting in the final third as they never threatened the home side.