The Sunday Mail
Ray Bande in TRIANGLE
Manica Diamonds………………3
Yadah……………………………….. 0
MANICA Diamonds grossed a paltry $185 after a total of 27 fans paid to watch them play in an otherwise exciting Castle Lager Premiership encounter against Yadah at Gibbo.
Despite the low attendance, the Mutare side won after turning on the power in the second half.
The Gem Boys have been battling to get the greenlight to use Vengere amid revelations that some few but critical touch ups need to be done for them to switch to Rusape.
In the meantime, Manica have been feeling the pinch of playing their home matches 350km from Mutare, where their encounters resemble training sessions owing to the paltry crowds that are always in attendance.
In yesterday’s encounter, the hosts dominated the first half, thereby creating scoring opportunities but failing to find the net. They got it right in the second half via goals by Stephen Sibanda who put in the 49th minute and Tendai Mukono who doubled the lead after he received a pass from Sibanda and neatly placed the ball past a diving Ali in the 75th minute.
Second half substitute Marshal Mudehwe then put the game beyond Yadah’s reach when he slotted home a shot from close range after receiving a through pass from man of the match – Sibanda.
Manica Diamonds coach Luke Masomere was elated with the result.
“I am happy with the result. It is a morale booster as we now prepare to face Dynamos in Harare.
“I think we dominated this match from the first whistle and I am happy that my boys played according to instruction. It is also encouraging to note that this is the first game we have scored more goals without conceding,” Masomere said.
His opposite number, Genesis Mangombe, bemoaned his team’s failure to convert.
“We are playing well as a team and managing to create chances but I really do not know how we are failing to convert. We are now going back to the drawing board and trying to concentrate on sharpening our strike force,” he said.
