The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season presents a blockbuster derby for folks in Manicaland tomorrow (Friday) at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle, pitting Manica Diamonds and newly promoted Green Fuel FC in MatchDay Four fixture.
Given how the two teams have played so far and the results that they have posted, for neutrals, there is reasonable hope or expectation that the league debutants, GreenFuel will emerge victors after the final whistle.
For the reasons, read on… If the 12th man is a matter in a game of football, chances are that GreenFuel will have more sympathisers in the terraces compared to Manica Diamonds, given their proximity of the match venue, even though both Manicaland Province teams will be playing their derby in Masvingo Province.
Coupled with that, when both teams played against the same opponent – Herentals FC – they achieved the same one-all result and with a sheer luck, the Ethanol Boys could have won their encounter.
That fortitude in the approach in their debut season places them at an advantage in comparison with their opponents – Manica Diamonds.
If hunger for success is also a factor in the game of football, then it is GreenFuel coach, Bekithemba Ndlovu who should have more of it, given the debated circumstances he suddenly found himself in that technical set-up.
No doubt, Ndlovu badly wants to justify the decision to have him as the club head coach, a decision that was made before the then incumbent, Lloyd Mutasa had barely failed. GreenFuel are playing in their first topflight league season, but are only separated by a single point, with the Gem Boys who have gained the tricks of the game in this big boys’ league for the past two seasons they have been part of it.
That only speaks volumes about their fortitude in GreenFuel camp when compared to Manica Diamonds because one would expect a wider gap between the two clubs, even with only three rounds of league matches having been played.
That GreenFuel fell to Hwange after one of their players had been red-carded and a penalty awarded to the coalminers, it is only fair to proffer that the Ethanol Boys were just unlucky since the opponent had the simple task of capitalizing on their numerical advantage.
No wonder GreenFuel chairperson, Fredson Moyo believes that it is too early to panic and looks into the future with optimism.
“They are adapting very well and there is an improved cohesion and coherence in the team, both on and off the field of play. I have watched all the three matches and from the match against Hwange everyone witnessed an energised and motivated team,” said Moyo.
