The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Castle Lager Premiership side, Manica Diamonds are flattering to deceive their fans after making a huge impression in the early stages of the race for the top-flight league title, only to start dropping points in recent weeks when least expected, resulting in their coach, Johanisi Nhumwa calling on authorities to invest in Video Assistant Referees (VAR).
Manica Diamonds can only be lucky to remain fourth on the table after this weekend’s round of league fixtures where they will be dating CAPS United away in Harare.
Not so long ago, Nhumwa and his men made a big promise when they were the team of the moment, spending weeks on the summit of the table, let alone producing shocking results like the 6-2 annihilation of CAPS United at Sakubva Stadium.
Somehow, the diamond miners lost the rhythm and started dishing out crucial points like confetti at a wedding even when playing before their home crowd.
Only last Sunday, the Gem Boys failed to shine on their return to Vengere Stadium in Rusape as they came from behind to grab a solitary point against a determined Herentals FC in a match that ended in a one-all stalemate.
The Mutare side had a goal disallowed by the referee during that encounter.
Manica Diamonds were on the receiving end a fortnight ago when they were outplayed to a 0-3 defeat at the hands of resurgent Highlanders FC at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
Rewind a three weeks back, Nhumwa and his men, disjointed and clueless as they were, walked off the pitch with their tails nicely tucked between their legs after being humiliated before their home crowd at Sakubva Stadium when they suffered a 0-1 loss to relegation threatened Bulawayo City FC.
The referee of the day rescinded a decision to award a last minute penalty to Manica Diamonds that could have significantly changed the results of that match.
This is the freefall that Nhumwa feels has more to do with recurrent incidences of poor match officiating.
In a post-match interview after the match against Herentals FC last week on on Saturday, Nhumwa said: “I think we should have won this match. In fact, we won this match, but the referee did not allow us. How can you deny a goal to a team that has scored?
“This level of match officiating is pathetic. I cannot say anything more other than the fact that this is energy sapping. I think we just have to think deeply about using technology to assist these referees.”
On his team’s performance and poor results in recent weeks, Nhumwa said: “This is just a rough patch which I believe is coming to an end now.
Every other teams goes through that. Even the biggest clubs in the world such as Barcelona or Real Madrid go through this.”
