The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MANICA Diamonds coach, Johanisi Nhumwa and his charges have gone for four consecutive matches without a win and Sunday’s away encounter against log leaders, Dynamos present them with a chance to turn the corner and regain the respect they are slowly losing in the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premiership League season.
Even though they have scored the highest number of goals so far this season, in those 360 minutes of open play of the previous four league encounters, Manica Diamonds have conceded four times.
Manica Diamonds settled for a one-all stalemate against Cranborne Bullets, before playing a goalless stalemate against FC Platinum at Sakubva Stadium.
The Gem Boys then picked another single point from another goalless stalemate against FC Platinum at Sakubva Stadium, before the three-all draw against Chicken at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.
Bill Antonio
The Gem Boys dropped two points in another disappointing goalless stalemate against Bulawayo Chiefs at Sakubva Stadium a fortnight ago.
For a team that sent early warning shots and made clear their intentions to gun for the title, going for four matches without winning is not in tandem with their ambitions.
Prolific goal poacher, Nyasha ‘Tito’ Chintuli reckons that the match against Dynamos will be synonymous to a fight against a wounded buffalo, given the Glamour Boys’ defeat to Highlanders in the Independence Cup on Monday.
Chintuli also understands that the Harare giants want to collect maximum points on Sunday and prolong their stay at the helm of the log table.
He, however, noted that this will not derail their plans to upset the Harare giants in their own backyard.
“It is obvious that Dynamos are still nursing the pains of losing against Highlanders in the Independence Cup. That only will add to their venom coming into Sunday’s match.
“They want to regain lost pride and that means getting a win against us. In any case, Dynamos are on top of the log standings and it is clear that they want to prolong their stay at the summit,” said Chintuli.
“However, that does not mean we do not have our aims and aspirations as a team. We have gone for four league matches without a win, with all these matches ending in draws. Therefore, this is also our time to turn the corner and start collecting maximum points. We believe we are equal to the task.
“We are not reading too much into the Dynamos status, both as a big team as well as them being on top of the log table. All we know is that we are in the same league, therefore we just have to compete at that level.” Exciting Dynamos forward, Bill Antonio says his team is not under any pressure as they face Manica Diamonds.
Instead, their aim is to continue from where they left in their last league encounter.
“Our loss in the Independence Cup against Highlanders does not really inspire me coming into the match against Manica Diamonds and as a team we have shifted focus back to where we left in the league. Now we hope to continue with the winning mentality.
“We do not find ourselves under pressure because we are continuing with our hard work and confidence so as to bring out the expected good results.
“For our fans, as they are our 12th man, it is important for them to come and support us for the good results to come. With them coming to support we all strive for more good results,” said Antonio.
