Gem Boys’ right back agony
DID the sunny Sunday July afternoon mark the end of exciting Manica Diamonds right back, Lawrence Masibera’s contribution to his club for this season?
The roving right back suffered a groin injury during a Castle Lager Premiership match against Bulawayo City at Sakubva Stadium on July 3, and since then he is yet to fully recover.
Without taking anything away from his fellow teammates, the 26-year-old former Sakubva Primary School and Elise Gledhill Secondary School learner has been a vital cog in the Manica Diamonds defensive and attacking formations, and since he has been inactive, the team has not been the same.
Word that Bulawayo City received a pre-match tip-off from a former football player who hails from Mutare, but plied his trade Bulawayo that if they want to deal decisively with Manica Diamonds they should shut out Masibera ceased to be just a rumour after the right back was injured in that match and up to this day he is still nursing the injury.
Strenuous efforts to return to action last week which saw Masibera taking light training did not yield much as he still felt the pain and was advised to continue with the treatment.
Masibera expects to be back in the last three matches if he improves.
“I think I am now looking forward to be back on the field of play in the last three matches of the season. I tried to take up light training, but I felt the pain and had to stop,” he said.
His coach, Johanisi Nhumwa admitted that they feel his absence.
“Masibera’s absence affected us a lot. The raids he used to initiate are no longer there. The tactful overlapping is no longer there. In fact, his absence has taught us a big lesson about recruitment. We need to have reliable replacements in almost every position if we are to maintain our tempo in the league marathon,” said Nhumwa.