Manica Diamonds still chasing PSL title

MANICA DIAMONDS…... 0 BLACK RHINOS…….........0

MANICA DIAMONDS coach Johanisi Nhumwa insists that his charges are still challenging for the league title despite the poor form which has seen them win only one of their last five games.

Nhumwa watched in anguish as his charges failed to make their numerical advantage and overcome the 10-man Black Rhinos in a lukewarm Castle Lager Premiership tie played at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.

He was surprisingly happy with a share of the spoils after their match with the army side.

“We are there; we are still challenging. That one point we picked is not bad; it is important to keep pushing us as we seek to continue improving in the next games. We are still involved and will keep fighting as we move on,” said Nhumwa.

The Gem Boys gaffer took a swipe at their opponents for delaying tactics.

He said: “Although this was a fair result, it is sad that they came here with the aim to delay throughout the game.

In the end we had maybe only 60 minutes of flowing action as they wasted time through their antics. Anyway, that is part of the game.”

The result leaves the diamond miners, who at one time were log leaders, on fifth position with 25 points from 15 games. They now trail early pacesetters Chicken Inn by six points.

Black Rhinos were content to wind down the clock as they played almost the entire second half a man short after Blessed Mbavaira was sent for an early shower in the 51st minute.

Mbavaira received his marching orders for upending a goal-bound Nyasha Chintuli on the edge of the box.

Their goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira chewed some precious seconds from the clock as he went down on several occasions, prompting numerous stoppages.

Chauya Chipembere coach Herbert Maruwa gave credit to his players for good game management.

“It was a good game considering that we played with one man short for the better part of the second half. I am happy with the boys; we defended well as a team. We also created more chances than them which we could have buried despite being a man down. We did very well in neutralising our opponents’ midfield. As a team we will continue grinding out results,” Maruwa said.

Rhinos now sit seventh with 22 points after leapfrogging Herentals on goal difference. The opening stanza was a big yawn, with little goalmouth action as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Although the visitors looked the better organised side with neat build-ups as Keith Madera orchestrated most of their forward forays, Mwandimutsira and his counterpart Jorum Muchambo had very little to do as they were not summoned to make any saves in the first half.

To inject more attacking impetus to their fowards, Manica Diamonds introduced Chintuli for Charles Teguru, who had a subdued game by his usual standards, at half time.

In search of the elusive goal, they threw in more attacking options in Farai Mugumwa, Emmanuel Chingondi and Lucky Vundla to no avail.

Black Rhinos remained resolute in defence and could have grabbed the lead against the run of play when they had their appeal for a penalty turned down after Tawanda Nyamandwe went down in the box under challenge before Farai Banda tested Muchambo from range.