Baye relishes Manica Diamonds role

19 May, 2023 - 00:05 0 Views
Baye relishes Manica Diamonds role SAFE HANDS . . . Manica Diamonds goalkeeper, Tedious Baye has been outstanding in goals. – Picture: Artwell Gumiso

The ManicaPost

 

Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter

MUTARE-BASED Premiership side, Manica Diamonds are presently one of the league’s in-form teams, going by their results in the last five matches.

This has seen the team climb from mid-table to fourth position after nine rounds of fixtures.

 

They have won four, drawn three and lost two games, accumulating 15 points and a goal difference of plus seven.

 

The diamond miners are two points off the summit, with Ngezi Platinum Star being the early pacesetters.

While coach, Jairos Tapera and his men are winning over hearts in Manicaland following that fantastic run, the form of some of the players has also excited their multitude of followers.

Hotshot forward, Fortune Binzi has arguably been the toast of not only his team, but the entire league as his goal-scoring exploits have catapulted him to be the frontrunner in the race for the golden boot.

 

The 24-year-old attacker has netted eight goals so far, scoring in four successive games.

While the team has proved to be potent in front of goal, its rearguard has also been well-marshalled in recent matches as it has kept three clean sheets and conceded three times in the last five matches.

 

Some observers have pointed to this impressive return as coinciding with goalkeeper, Tedious Baye being thrust into the starting XI.

Baye has been doing duty between the sticks in the last four games, with the team winning three and drawing one of those.

 

When Baye started matches, the defence was only breached in the 2-2 stalemate against reigning champions, FC Platinum and prevented the opponents from scoring in the 2-0, 4-0 and 3-0 victories against Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos and ZPC Kariba respectively.

Before that, seasoned shot-stopper Jorum Muchambo had kept goal in the first five games.

 

He conceded in all but one of the games.

 

Perhaps Baye has been the team’s lucky charm during that run.

Delighted with the progress they are making, he, however, put down their upturn in fortunes to team spirit, hard work and determination.

“Of late, we have been doing very. The results are showing a marked improvement for us. This is delightful. I guess it is a question of things falling into place for us, while luck – which is a factor in this game – has also been on our side.

 

“We have been working hard since the start of the season, although good results have been eluding us.We have picked good form and are keen to keep that momentum going,” he said of the progress the team has been making.

Baye, who is debuting in the top-flight season, said he is relishing starting matches.

“It is a wonderful experienceto be in thestarting XI for every player and I am no exception. This opportunity is a moment to savour for me and it challenges me to continue working hard so that I keep contributing to the overall cause of the team in a positive way. I am glad that I kept a clean sheet in my first ever Premiership match when we thrashed ZPC Kariba 3-0 in their own backyard,” enthused Baye.

He cited the healthy competition among the club’s three goalkeepers as spurring each one of them to continually improve their game.

 

Manica Diamonds’ other goalkeepers are Muchambo and Geoffrey Chitsumba.

Baye also attributed his good showing between the sticks to goalkeepers’ trainer, Thembinkosi Sibanda.

The agile goalminder feels that the defenders are also doing well to protect him and the goal area. Lawrence Masibera, Farai Banda, Trevor Mavhunga and Tawanda Chisi have been the regular back four marshalling the rearguard, while Kelvin Gwawo has also played cameo roles.

“This is a team effort. Everyone from defence to midfield and attack has been doing their job very well and it makes the work easier,” said Baye in modesty.

Putting in such spirited shifts has seen the players chewing every blade of the grass on the pitch, he reckons. And the results have been reflective of those workmanlike performances.

Just as he is jealously guarding Manica Diamonds’ goal area with his safe pair of hands, Baye is geared to keep his position as the team’s first choice shot-stopper secure.

Baye joined Manica Diamonds after a stellar season with GreenFuel as part of the cast that helped the Chisumbanje-based side secure promotion into the Premiership.

So outstanding was the 28-year-old shot-stopper during the ethanol producers’ triumphant procession that he conceded only five times in 26 matches.

 

He sat out the remainder of the fixtures owing to injury.

 

His defence was breached only three times in all the matches he played.

 

He kept an incredibly massive 22 clean sheets in the process.

Three of the five goals were conceded in the first round of the campaign and two in the second, with only three teams – Mutare City Rovers, Manica Diamonds Juniors and FC WanguMazodze – managing to score past him.

Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera is equally impressed by his goalminder’s good form.

“Baye has been very impressive after we handed him the first choice role. But let me hasten to point out that we have three very good goalkeepers in him, Muchambo and Chitsumba. Any one of these three can do the job.

 

“It is Baye who is doing duty now and next time it may be the other keeper. After getting the chance to start matches, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands and making the most of it.

“Baye is in good form right now and that also augurs well for the wholeteam. It shows that the group is functioning effectively as a whole unit. That makes the club the overall winner,” said the former Young Warriors coach.

He said his side’s good performances in recent matches are a result of the players’ zeal to succeed coupled with the highly competent technical team’s input and the executive as they pull in the same direction in pursuit of the club’s goals.

“We are presently in a good moment and everyone at the club is enjoying that. However, that challenges us to continue working hard. We have assembled a formidable outfit and also boast a highly competent technical team comprising myself as well as the two assistant coaches Tafadzwa Mashiri and Patrick Mandizha. Our team manager, kit manager and the medical team also deserve special mention while the executive keeps the machine well-oiled,” said Tapera.

 

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