Derby delight!
…Will diamond sparkle, or lithium will lighten up?
THE better team of the day is highly likely to get both the three points at stake as well as the support from the terraces when Manica Diamonds host Bikita Minerals at Sakubva Stadium in a Castle Lager Premiership encounter set for Sunday.
Both Manica Diamonds and Bikita Minerals use Sakubva Stadium as their home ground, and so far they have all enjoyed the backing of the hard to please Mutare football fans.
With Manica Diamonds now on second position on the Castle Lager Premiership table following their sudden resurgence which has seen the Mutare diamond miners going for six consecutive matches collecting maximum points, Sunday’s league encounter presents yet another stern test of character for coach, Jairos Tapera and his men.
On the other hand, Bikita Minerals have been enjoying considerable support of local fans each time they are at Sakubva Stadium due to their exciting passing game, a known trademark style of play for teams coached by veteran gaffer, Saul Chaminuka.
Thus, Tapera, reckons the challenge posed by the lithium miners in their fine run.
“We respect Bikita Minerals as they have been posting very good results. Remember, we are sharing the same stadium as our home ground, and the same supporters making it an interesting derby.
“We are preparing well for this encounter. We will play with a positive mind. We have been doing well of late, and we would like to continue with that fine run,” said Tapera.
The former Young Warriors gaffer attributes his club’s fine run to the hard work and commitment that all members of his team have invested in the project.
“We attribute our fine run to hard work being put by the players. The level of commitment is just impressive. I believe this also has more to do with team work by both players and technical team,” said Tapera.
He said they are not reading too much into their current position on the table, and are only concerned with collecting maximum points with each passing match.
“We are not looking at the position we are at the log. It is still very early. We are just working hard to maintain the form and try and win as many matches as possible,” said Tapera.
His opposite number, Chaminuka understands the enormity of the task ahead of him and his club.
Chaminuka said: “This is the game of the year for both teams as either side knows how important winning this game is.
“We are sister clubs fighting for bragging rights, and the good thing is that we are all home this week. The team that settles first and handles the fire thrown at it well will win.
“Mutare fans are in for a treat this weekend. I promise them fireworks during Sunday’s match at Sakubva Stadium. Sakubva will be the best place to be after church.”
Chaminuka hinted that he is staying put at Bikita Minerals after several clubs expressed the desire to lure him.
“I am at Bikita and this Sunday, I want our fans to concentrate on pushing our boys so that we come out of this one with maximum points. We want to amass as many points as we can so that we end this first round with points that will see us instead of being threatened with relegation, we will be fighting for a top six finish.
“I believe that achievement will be like winning a title in our debut season. My message is, let us see what we started through together. Our God whose name is Jehovah will lead the way as always,” said Chaminuka.