Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
OVER the past three to four weeks, Mutare-based Castle Lager Premiership side, Manica Diamonds, have made a flurry of appointments.
For football fans in the eastern border city, and the Gem Boys’ supporters in particular, the reasons behind the changes have remained a riddle wrapped in mystery.
Sakunda Holdings chief operations officer, Mberikwazvo Chitambo, became the latest addition to the club’s leadership structure when he was named patron.
A results-driven business executive and top-notch banker, Chitambo’s appointment is part of an ongoing restructuring aimed at stability and success this season.
His arrival followed the recent appointment of Taurai Kandishaya, as secretary general.
Kandishaya’s appointment, in turn, came after Tinashe Leslie Chipunza was installed as chairman.
The club’s leadership now comprises a board of directors made up of president, Evans Kamombo, Tawanda Mbidzo (vice president – commercial and marketing), Chipo Kamombo, Tinashe Kamombo and Caleb Gurura.
The executive team includes Chipunza as club chairman, Masimba Chihowa (vice-chairman), Fungai Mukwinya (treasurer) and Nyasha Kadenge (chief executive officer).
Last week, further technical appointments were confirmed, with veteran player-manager, Donald Manhende named general manager, while juniors coach, Hibron ‘Adala Chomi’ Makukutu was elevated to the seniors’ technical department.
Notably, Tawanda Mbidzo, a football and media professional, brings expertise in sports administration, player profiling and content production, along with proven experience in football operations and stakeholder engagement.
He combines strong media credentials as founder of Scottland Magazine and producer of the Scottland Magazine Podcast Show with on-the-ground football insight.
Skilled at identifying talent, crafting compelling player profiles and coordinating high-profile logistics — including producing the itinerary for international personality IShowSpeed — Mbidzo leverages this unique blend of sport and media strategy to grow brands, engage audiences and manage sports projects end-to-end.
No wonder chairman, Tinashe Chipunza, says the reshuffle is about “placing the right individuals in the right positions for the sole purpose of unlocking value in corporate partnerships”.
He said: “We are making these appointments to strengthen corporate governance within the club. The direction is to move forward in fomenting football development in Manicaland.
“As you are aware, we inherited a project that was in the doldrums, but we are now on our way out of the relegation zone, and we are confident we will make it. We are in the right direction and the club’s vision will soon be fulfilled. The whole idea behind these appointments is to place the right individuals in the right positions to unlock value in corporate partnership.”
Chipunza said Manica Diamonds’ long-term vision is to develop talent capable of breaking into European leagues without first passing through South Africa or elsewhere.
“We cannot continue recycling players. We are not seeing Zimbabweans breaking into big European clubs as we used to, because we got it wrong in terms of talent identification and nurturing,” he said.
“Therefore, we will soon appoint a professor who is a guru in sports science to enhance grassroots talent development across all parts of Manicaland Province.”
He added: “The long-term dream is a sports science centre in Mutare that will enable players from Manicaland to develop into world-class talent. This is about Manicaland. After all, we did well to fuse football administration expertise from other parts of the country with our own sons of Manicaland.
“Chitambo hails from the Gonori area in Bocha. I come from Headlands, so we have a true reflection of Manicaland blood in the leadership. But you and I agree that where we need expertise, we must appoint our fellow Zimbabweans from other parts of the country,” said Chipunza.
He also confirmed the appointment of Manhende and the elevation of Makukutu.
“We now have Hibron Makukutu and Benjamin Marere in the senior team. Isaac Nengomasha is head coach of the Under-19 Division One side. A passionate junior players’ coach, we hope he will add value to our quest to promote our own products from the juniors.
“Roderick Mufudza, a former Manica Diamonds player, is assisting Nengomasha. This is home-grown talent, and we are happy with this set-up as a club,” said Chipunza.
