The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi, Footy column
DESPITE losing three of their best players during the Castle Lager Premiership 2019 season, Manica Diamonds have declared that they are still in good shape and gearing up for the upcoming campaign.
Defender Partson Jaure has rejoined Harare giants Dynamos while forwards Last Jesi and Stanley Ngala both left for champions FC Platinum.
Hardly putting a foot wrong and in imperious form, the trio formed part of the leading lights among the cast that did duty for the Gem Boys last term.
Interestingly, the latter two — the diamond miners’ Player of the Year and top marksman in 2019 with six strikes respectively — made impressive debuts for Pure Platinum Play in the Caf Champions League Group B game against Al Ahly at Babourfields, with Ngala on target to earn his new paymasters a precious point.
And with many considering the trident’s departure a huge blow for the club, team manager Ticha Zikai is upbeat that the team remains intact and has what it takes to remain a competitive outfit.
“Footballers come and go all the time and that is the way it is; we have to live with that.
We cannot deny how important for us the said players were last season and are grateful for the services rendered during their time here, but life goes on without them.
Manica Diamonds wish them well in their future endeavours and we are proud of the part we played in the growth and development of their respective careers.
“Actually it is a club policy that we do not slam the door on players keen to move on and they always do it with our blessings. These are not the only ones, however, as other players may also leave while we welcome new arrivals and look to promote some from our junior team that was competing in [Zifa Eastern Region] Division Two. We are a club who have been on an upward trajectory since our formation and are eager to continue on that path,” Zikai told Post Sport.
After staying afloat in only their debut season in the top-flight league, the Gem Boys are looking to build onto that gathered momentum and keep their foot on the pedal as they seek to improve on 2019’s fifth position finish.
And the seasoned administrator highlighted that their preparations for the 2020 season will soon begin to gather pace and they are going to dip into the market for fresh signings.
“As a club our profile keeps growing and several players have already shown keen interest in joining us because going by last season we showed what we are capable of. We are still growing but have huge potential to become an established force in the domestic game
“Presently we are looking at some players, but whose identities we cannot divulge for professional reasons, that only after assessing and agreeing terms with them can we make official announcements lest we jeopardise the process,” the Gem Boys’ team manager said.
Manica Diamonds remain an attractive prospect boasting sound corporate backing and at one time managed to secure the signatures of the likes of Jaure, Tafadzwa Dube, Jorum Muchambo, Benjamin Marere, Peace Makaha, Marshall Mudehwe, Wisdom Mutasa and Carlton Munzabwa among a host of big names. While there have been misses with some players, others have certainly been hits.
The trio of Ngala, Jaure and Jesi’s careers, especially, received a kiss of life at the club.
The former, an acquisition unearthed from Bulawayo Chiefs, was virtually an unknown quantity until his arrival at the diamond miners who polished him into a gem good enough to attract the pursuit of the three-time reigning champions.
