‘Gem Boys here to stay’
THE Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has allayed fears that one of its biggest corporate social responsibility projects — Castle Lager Premiership outfit, Manica Diamonds — might be disbanded following the recent changes in the company’s management.
If anything, the diamond mining entity wants the Gem Boys to continue shinning and also become more financially stable through investing in income generating projects. In recent weeks, panic had gripped the Manica Diamonds camp following some new appointments in the parastatal’s board of directors.
The fact that mobile network operator NetOne recently pulled the plug on its sponsorship for Caps United, Highlanders and Black Rhinos fuelled speculation that Manica Diamonds could be left without sponsorship if the new board members were to deem the club as excess baggage.
However in an interview, ZCDC head of public relations and community development Sugar Chagonda said there had been no deliberations with regards to disbanding the club.
He, however, stressed the need for Manica Diamonds to be self sustainable.
“As far as we are concerned, there have been no deliberations with regards to disbanding the Manica Diamonds Football Club. If anything, we still insist that the club must find ways of sustaining itself beyond the ZCDC sponsorship package. This is the only way to go. In any case, this is the only way that we can avoid having such discussions in future.
“The club needs to invest in income generating business units that will cover its operating costs,” Chagonda said.
After finishing on an impressive fifth position on the 2019 Castle Lager Premiership table in their debut top-flight season,
Manica Diamonds endeared itself with fans across Manicaland.
Much is expected from the Gem Boys given a relatively formidable squad that was assembled this year after a number of key players had left at the end of last season.
In a separate interview, Manica Diamonds’ new secretary general, Shingi Nhunzvi said the club is focused on maintaining or surpassing the standards set last season once football resumes.
“We are fully aware of the trials and tribulations that every club is going through due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a club, we looking beyond that. We want to maintain or even surpass the standards we set last season, and that includes gunning for the PSL title.
“We are happy with the support that we are getting from the sponsor and Manicaland’s football loving people. We will pay back by playing entertaining football.
“We had our pre-season preparations and just like everyone else across the globe, we were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we are anxiously looking forward to the season with the view of achieving more as a club,” he said.
Nhunzvi agreed that the club needs to be able to sustain itself financially.