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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
JAIROS TAPERA has been crowned the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Coach of the Month for April following an impressive turn around by his Manica Diamonds outfit.
The seasoned coach yesterday said his team’s incredible form of April will mean nothing if they start the new month on the negative.
Tapera guided the Mutare-based diamond miners to five straight wins and was deservedly voted the Coach of the Month for April.
But Tapera has been in the football business for a long time to understand that the accolade will mean nothing if the club go on to struggle for consistency.
After all Manica Diamonds who are now second behind log leaders Highlanders after nine match days, had an indifferent start to the season.
Bulawayo Chiefs striker Never Rauzhi, who also enjoyed a stellar month in April won the Player of the Month gong.
It is Tapera though, who endured a stuttering start to the campaign, who is preoccupied with keeping up his stats at the helm of Manica Diamonds.
His charges travel to Kariba this afternoon looking to stretch their winning spell to six straight victories against a ZPC Kariba side that is yet to post a home win at Nyamhunga.
“Look, I am very happy to have won this crown. You know how it feels to be rewarded for doing what you love to do the most,” Tapera said.
“I credit my boys for the work they are doing to help me as their coach.
“It’s for all of them. I am really proud of them and I salute their work ethic.
“Football is about teamwork and application of set scenarios. That’s why I will always talk about my boys doing wonders for the team.
“We are in really good form as a team having been magnificent last month.
“But I tell you, we need to retain the consistence and continue to show the hunger.”
Tapera said his team should carry the same mentality they have been displaying all along when they march onto the Nyamhunga turf this afternoon.
“We have talked with the boys that every team that we meet now want to beat us,” he said.
“We need to really put on the work and leave everything in the field of play. We are a team enjoying a purple patch and we need to continue in that trajectory.
“ZPC Kariba is not a small team. They have 11 years’ experience in the league and they can beat any team in this division.
“So, it’s up to us to show that we are in for the grind and try to win. We need to start the month on a positive note.”
Rauzhi will also come under the spotlight when he leads the attacking line for Bulawayo Chiefs on their visit to champions Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab this afternoon.
Online Reporter