Manica Diamonds: Life after Nhumwa
NEW Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera opened his account for the club with a depressing 0-3 defeat at the hands of ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium in Kariba last Saturday.
Tapera replaced Johanisi Nhumwa last week as the latter was fired following a string of poor results.
Much as the decision to make changes in their technical department with five rounds of PSL season matches remaining was meant to let the new coaches acclimatise with the environment ahead of a fresh season next year, the Gem Boys’ fans in Mutare are waiting to see whether Nhumwa’s exit will translate into a change of fortunes for the diamond miners.
Following Nhumwa’s departure, Post Sport gathered reactions from authorities in the game, read on…
Munyaradzi Chibwana, Manica Diamonds Supporters chairman, said: “It is unfortunate that the team had to part ways with the coach. I guess it is not anyone’s wish to see someone losing his job. As supporters, it was becoming unbearable for us to witness consecutive losses and a continued downward spiral of the team.
“We thus wish him well in his future endeavours and would like to thank him for the glory days he brought us. I hope and pray this move will catapult the team to dizzy heights as we always yearn for as supporters. So I say go yee well The Dutch Mentor.”
Donald ‘King Azurie’ Manhende, a well-known local player manager who has handled affairs of several Sakubva-born players, said:“The problem that happened is that player contracts were signed before the Covid-19 lockdown and carried over after the pandemic when football resumed.
“The team should have signed young players when league action resumed. Johanisi Nhumwa should have made a request to sign 23-year-olds and below. When football action resumed, the team was on a high, but it was clear that they would not last the distance because some, if not most, are senior players who have gone past their prime stages in their careers.
“The other thing is the training methods that Nhumwa employed were not answering to the health questions of the players who were at his disposal given their ages.
“If you look at how Zinedine Zidane handled Cristiano Ronaldo, you will understand what I am talking about. Zidane would give Ronaldo less pressure to the extent of substituting him in some matches because he realised that his age was a bit advanced.
“So this is the reason why the club (Manica Diamonds) went on a downward trend in terms of results as fatigue and injuries had crept in. It is automatic in football that if results do not come, you will be fired. Otherwise, he is a good coach who only needs to a adjust a few things including what I have mentioned above. As an avid follower of the game in Mutare, I really wish him well wherever he will go.”
South Africa-based Mutare football benefactor, James Lunga-Meya, fondly referred to as Hwetu by many in local football circles especially the players he assisted financially and materially, said: “The coach is not merely or sorely to blame when results are not forthcoming. It goes beyond the structure of the team and how the players are responding to the coach’s philosophy and I believe, the players are to blame for not performing and bringing in good results to the team.
“You look at a situation where a player like Nyasha Chintuli has been struggling as a striker by not scoring the required goals. You cannot expect the coach to score goals for the players. All what the coach does is to instruct and the players should respond accordingly. That is what is lacking and therefore, to sack the coach was a very bad decision and instead, Manica Diamonds need to invest in youth policies and also trust our young former players like Taurai Makukutu and Blessing Gumiso as coaches to lead the team for next season.”
Maverick veteran football administrator, Cecilia Gambe said: “I think they were supposed to sit down with him and inform him that everyone is not happy with the results and then part ways with him at the end of the season.
“Now that it has happened, it is water under the bridge and we just have to look forward. So many things were said about the coach.
“Some said the coach failed on team selection, while others said the club leadership dictated player selection. We do not have the actual truth about what went wrong at the club.
“But remember he once gave us smiles on our faces when the team was among the top four teams. This is why I feel his exit was unprofessionally handled. He actually came for the Dynamos match knowing that he had been fired. They actually disrespected him.
“The other option is that I feel they should have hired a technical advisor and Nhumwa remains the head coach. We will keep changing coaches. Who knows how the new coaches will perform. We need to build a brand around people who identify with the club. Anyway, I wish him well in his career.”