Manica Diamonds FC’s moment
CASTLE Lager Premiership-bound Manica Diamonds can easily become the first second tier league club in the 2018 football season to secure Premiership promotion if they beat Bikita Minerals at Lithium Stadium on Sunday while Tenax loses to Renco Mine tomorrow (Saturday).
If that combination of results, which leaves the log leaders with an unassailable 20 points lead, does not materialise then the Gem Boys would only need to win their next two assignments to secure a place among the big boys of domestic football next season.
Lithium Stadium, tucked in the thickets of largely remote Bikita, is the Gem Boys next destination on Sunday before Luke Masomere’s men host Merlfort on home turf at Mutare Boys High school grounds
Manica Diamonds are guaranteed another set of three points from the match they were set to play against the now defunct Zero Zero One, which takes them to an unassailable lead if they win against Bikita Minerals on Sunday, the official league log standings are yet to award those points to the Gems Boys given that the fixture is still weeks away.
Zero Zero One FC are no longer fulfilling their fixtures and teams playing the Gutu side are given three points on a walkover basis.
Zifa Eastern Region secretary Simba Wisdom said the earliest that Manica Diamonds can celebrate promotion is after next Sunday’s match.
“Mathematically it is clear that if they win the match against Bikita Minerals they remain with their 17 points lead when Tenax also wins and that takes their quest for promotion to the next round of league matches.
“We are aware that they will get three points from the match against Zero Zero One who are no longer fulfilling their fixtures but that match is weeks away from now hence official league log standings record the number of games played so far,” said Wisdom.
The place where the journey started - Mutare Boys grounds - the only other option in Mutare in view of the long dragging renovations at Sakubva Stadium, is now likely to be the venue of Manica Diamonds FC on-field celebrations next weekend, if they win both matches.
By winning Eastern Region Division One championship next weekend, the Gem Boys are still expected to become the first second tier league side of 2017 to seal promotion into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Festivities that come with clinching Premiership promotion normally last long, some even throughout the off season period, but it is the day and place where promotion is sealed that wild celebrations are witnessed as club administrators, coaches, players, ancillary staff and fans hug and cheer after the final whistle.
For the Manica Diamonds Class of ’18, it could be this Sunday much as it could be next!
Luke Masomere’s men have gone for 23 matches now without knowing how it feels to lose a match, amassing a cool 63 points - a massive 17 ahead of closest rival Tenax.
Manica Diamonds boss Masimba Chihowa said the earlier they seal promotion into the Premiership, the better.
“We are aware that we will be crowned Eastern Region Division One champions at some point in the remaining matches but the earlier we are confirmed the better. It gives us time to go through the euphoria that comes with Premiership promotion and adjust to the demands of preparing for a more competitive league. We need to start sealing deals players that we intend to use next season,” he said.
The Chancellor Primary School head said going this far without tasting defeat is amble evidence of the agility within their ranks, local players included.
“I think it is clear that when a team gets this far without suffering a single defeat, it surely has good players. It means we still need some of those players that we have had in Division One, which also includes local players in the team. We have an obligation and social responsibility to the society we operate in. They have been part of this success and deserve a chance as we get into a more competitive league,” said Chihowa.