Online Reporter
Ray Bande in Mutare
THE Castle Lager Premiership match between Manica Diamonds and Scottland at Sakubva on Saturday has left an impression difficult to ignore.
Memories of the electric ambience, last witnessed in this competition at this venue years back, will keep lingering in the minds of many who attended.
However, the goalless stalemate between the two teams had every other ingredient of a thriller.
A total of 5 772 tickets were sold and given the ever-ballooning number of privileged cardholders and those with privileged connections, most of whom filled up the small VIP enclosure, 6 000 can be a reasonable estimate of the number of people who attended the match.
Action on the field of play did not disappoint.
Play swung from one end of the pitch to the other throughout the match, much to the amusement of the bumper crowd.
Acts of individual brilliance were witnessed in Manica Diamonds’ Charles “Teko” Teguru and the visitors’ goal minder Nelson Chadya.
The downside, of course, had Warriors forward Khama Billiat having a subdued performance, little less than widely expected.
But it is the carnival atmosphere that prevailed, not only during the match at Sakubva Stadium but also the mood in the whole eastern border city, which remains etched in the minds of many.
Naturally, where crowds are, shops, bars and vendors have brisk business.
The same prevailed in Mutare during the weekend.
A proprietor of the newly opened Villa Hub beverage and food outlet in the outskirts of the city, just a stone’s throw from the Fern Valley suburb as well as the Villa Spot Dangamvura leisure centre, said: “I think this is what is needed on a regular basis.
“We had more patrons at our outlets than usual. It was clear that most of the people who visited our outlets had been around for the football match pitting Manica Diamonds and Scottland at Sakubva Stadium. This is exactly what we used to know in the past when big football teams were in Mutare,” said Abel Zhakata.
Kenny Mutani, a local ardent football follower, said: “I was not disappointed with the game, especially on the field of play. I just attended the match because it had been so hyped, but I was skeptical about the entertainment value of the actual game.
However, I was impressed. It was a good game of football. I wish we could have more of this.”
Manica Diamonds chairman Masimba Chihowa thanked the people of Mutare for supporting the game of football in spectacular fashion.
“While our numbers might seem very low compared to those in big cities, it is worth noting that the ambience was just fantastic. This is good for our game.
“Only if we can have a weekly dosage of this kind of electric atmosphere our football will develop. As a nation I think we need more corporate players that have the capacity to market this product called football so that we earn the attention of members of the public. It can only leave me thanking the people of Mutare, no matter which team they supported on the day; this was good,” he said.
Such is the influence and support base that Scottland FC has attracted with only months into the country’s top-flight league.
Bongani Ndlovu