Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
Manica Diamonds……………….(0) 1
Yadah ………………………..…..…(0) 0
MUTARE-BAZED Castle Lager Premiership outfit Manica Diamonds’ 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 a spirited 10-men Yadah at Sakubva Stadium this afternoon.
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 last season, was thrust into the deep end against Yadah yesterday, and indeed he justified.
And coach Jairos Tapera was a 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.
From the onset of the match, the home team dominated the exchanges but failed to breach the resolute Yadah defence.
Not even the 43rd minute red card on Anotidaishe Gwatidzo after a clumsy challenge on Liberty Masvaure could translate into tangible advantage for Manica Diamonds, at least in regulation time.
Notwithstanding that Yadah had only two players on the bench in Evans Rusike and Ryna Ncube, several attempts at goal by the Tapera-coached outfit were repelled.
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 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 wince we came here 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”
