Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICA Diamonds coach, Tafadzwa Mashiri, is under pressure, and facing the axe following a poor run of results in which the club gained just one point from a possible 18, failed to score a single goal, and conceded 10 in the first six rounds of Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures.
As the season unfolds, Mashiri could be the second coach to be relieved of his duties, after regional neighbours, Triangle FC sacked their coach, Thomas Ruzive, and replaced him with former CAPS United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe.
Panic has already gripped the Mutare outfit’s faithful, with many predicting that the club will be relegated from the Premiership at the end of the season, as Manica Diamonds remain rooted on the bottom of the top-flight league table.
A point gained from their goalless draw against Chicken Inn at GreenFuel Arena is all they have to show for their efforts in the season so far.
Contacted for comment on the growing speculation, Manica Diamonds chairman, Masimba Chihowa, said the club hierarchy is equally worried about the results, but had not yet reached the stage of considering firing coaches.
“It is common cause that when results are not coming the way they are for us (Manica Diamonds), everyone involved, the club leadership, coaches and players, get worried. However, let me hasten to mention that we have not at any moment thought about firing our coaches. We strongly believe in the family unit concept whereby if things get tough, we explore ways of improving our situation as a family without necessarily apportioning the blame on individuals,” he said.
Despite the assurance, word on the streets suggests that Manica Diamonds have started courting other potential coaches, with the view that if the poor run of results continues, Mashiri might soon be shown the exit door.
Names such as Saul Chaminuka and Rodwell Dhlakama have been thrown around as possible replacements for the struggling Manica Diamonds coach.
In an interview, Mashiri said the match against Herentals at the GreenFuel Arena on Sunday is a must-win encounter for the not-so-shiny Gem Boys.
“We have been preparing well for MatchDay Seven against Herentals FC down in Chisumbanje. When I look at the preparations ahead of the match against Herentals, I think we are on the right path and just need to remain positive in our attitude. Admittedly, we are in a very tight situation as far as the results are concerned. It is not an easy situation. We need to motivate the players, and we are doing all that we can to motivate them and ensure they have the necessary mental strength.
“Getting a positive result is a must for us, especially collecting maximum points in our next encounter. Herentals is a very good team, and they are real fighters, hence we need to be at our best to breach their backline. They have gone for three matches without a win, hence the need to find ways to add to their misery,” said Mashiri, who looked back at the match against CAPS United with regret, feeling that his team put up an otherwise fine performance.
“In the match against CAPS United, where we lost 0-2 in Harare, we had a decent first half. The application from the players was spot on, and we managed to match our opponents. One of the key moments was when our goalkeeper saved what I believe was a soft penalty for CAPS United.
“From there, we hoped that we would take the game to our opponents in the second half, but somehow the defensive blunder we made deflated our hopes. It was worse when we conceded another goal through a second defensive blunder. Though we tried to make some changes to breathe life into our fight, the match was beyond our reach. I cannot really blame the players because they did their best,” said Mashiri.
