Gem Boys break season opener jinx, but . . .

07 Mar, 2025 - 00:03 0 Views
Gem Boys break season opener jinx, but . . . Jairos Tapera has chosen to deny this publication pre-and post-match interviews citing disgruntlement over an article published last year, entitled: ‘Open letter to Masimba Chihowa’, but that does not lessen the unenviable task that lies ahead of him in the club’s quest for a Premiership title

 

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter

 

THE Jairos Tapera-coached Manica Diamonds won their first-ever top flight league season opener in their five-year stay in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they edged a determined Yadah 1-0 at Sakubva Stadium last Saturday.

However, the hard fought slender triumph was ample evidence of the daunting task that lies ahead if the team is to win its first coveted Premiership title.

Notwithstanding that Yadah had only two players on the bench – Evans Rusike and Ryna Ncube – Manica Diamonds still struggled to breach their defence for the entire 90 minutes, and it had to take a last gasp winner for the Gem Boys to celebrate victory.

 

As if that was not enough, even the 43rd minute red card to Yadah’s Anotidaishe Gwatidzo, following a clumsy challenge on Liberty Masvaure, could translate into tangible advantage for Manica Diamonds, at least in regulation time.

In fact, it was Yadah that appeared superior, technically, given that the Harare side chose to put the highly-rated Rusike on the bench, only to introduce him later as a way to add vitality in their team at a time fatigue had crept in for most of their players.

However, the Mutare-based Castle Lager Premiership outfit technical team’s decision to play top man, Fortune Binzi, in his rightful central striking position paid off as the Sakubva-born striker’s flicker, five minutes into added time, was all they needed to bag maximum points against their spirited 10-men opponents.

Binzi, a promising striker who spent the greater part of last season coming as a winger in the few matches that he was lucky to get game play, was thrust into the deep end against Yadah, and indeed justified his presence in the home side.

And coach, Tapera, was a visibly relieved man in the fifth minute of the seven minutes added time when the ginger haired forward connected a cross from Anelka Chivandire to give Manica Diamonds the lead and the only goal of the encounter.

To their credit, from the onset of the match, the home team dominated the exchanges, but somehow failed to breach the resolute Yadah defence.

At the end, Yadah coach, Ikabort Masocha, conceded that it was a well-deserved triumph for the Gem Boys.

“I think they deserved to win. They pilled so much pressure on us from the first whistle, but we managed to withhold pressure. However, they were lucky to score towards the end, and they deserved the win,” said Masocha.

His opposite number, Tapera, who delegated his assistant, Tafadzwa Mashiri to handle post match interviews, was visibly relieved after Harare-based referee, Ronald Chinyanyi blew the final whistle.

Mashiri said: “This is a good start to the season, and we are happy with that. This is our first time to win our first match of the season since our promotion, so there is every reason to be happy about it. Yes, it is clear that we are not yet there. We need more time to gel and form a formidable unit, but we are happy that we still managed to get the result that we desperately wanted. We look forward into the future with confidence.”

Going forward, the match against former champions, FC Platinum, away at Mandava Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) will be a test of consistency and fortitude to Tapera and his men.

Meanwhile, as the 2025 Premiership action unfolds, Sakubva Stadium will play host to Bikita Minerals and new boys, MWOS encounter tomorrow (Saturday).

The match starts at 3pm.

 

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