By Desire Tshuma
Mutare – Manica Diamonds breathed fresh life into their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League survival campaign after edging Triangle United 1-0 in a tense Matchday 25 encounter at Sakubva Stadium yesterday, courtesy of a second-half strike from new signing Carlos Mavhurume.
The victory was as priceless as it was overdue for the Gem Boys, who dominated large spells but were frustrated by poor finishing before finally finding the breakthrough in the 73rd minute.
With the stakes sky high in the relegation battle, coach Herbert Maruwa’s men controlled possession and dictated tempo from the first whistle. However, their inability to convert clear-cut chances nearly proved costly.
The hosts fashioned no fewer than five gilt-edged opportunities in the opening half alone, carving open the Triangle defence with slick passing and relentless pressure. Yet wayward finishing and resolute goalkeeping kept the game goalless at the break.
It was a first-half performance that deserved more. The Gem Boys pressed high, won the midfield battle and stretched Triangle’s defence, but lacked the final touch.
Recognising the need for fresh impetus, Maruwa turned to his bench in the second half, introducing Russell Kahiki. The impact was immediate.
The supersub injected pace and creativity into the Manica attack. His decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when he beat his marker and delivered a perfectly weighted pass for Mavhurume, who kept his composure to slot home and send home supporters into wild celebrations.
The goal separated the two sides and handed Manica three precious points in the fight against relegation.
Liberty Masvaure, Divine Zulu, Kupakwashe Chitukutuku, Darrel Zulu and Man of the Match Philip Kaseke underlined that Manica Diamonds have the quality to remain in the top flight.
Despite the win, the Gem Boys remained in their league position after fellow strugglers Agama FC beat Simba Bhora while TelOne also claimed maximum points against CAPS United in Gweru, leaving the survival battle finely poised.
With nine matches remaining, every point is now invaluable.
A delighted Maruwa praised his players’ determination but said finishing must improve.
“The most important thing today was collecting maximum points at home. The boys showed character and deserved the victory. We created many chances, especially in the first half, and on another day we could have scored more. We have to improve our finishing because these matches can punish you,” Maruwa said.
“The result keeps our survival hopes alive. We still have nine games to play and we will continue fighting until the very end. Every match is now like a cup final for us.”
Club president Kamombo welcomed the win but challenged the squad to be more ruthless.
“I am happy with the result because these are the points we desperately needed. However, the boys must show more hunger to win. We cannot continue wasting chances if we are serious about surviving. We need to kill games early and reward ourselves for the good football we are playing.”
The home supporters played their part, creating a lively atmosphere despite the pressure of the relegation scrap.
“We will never get tired of supporting Manica Diamonds. This team belongs to the people of Mutare and we will stand with them until the last game,” one supporter said.
Another added: “The players fought for the badge today and we are proud of them. We want them to keep believing because survival is still possible.”
Before kick-off, both teams observed a minute of silence in honour of Highlanders FC officials who tragically lost their lives on Thursday night while travelling back to Bulawayo after their match against ZPC Kariba.
For Manica Diamonds, attention now turns to the final nine fixtures where every tackle and every goal could determine whether the Gem Boys preserve their Premier Soccer League status.
Yesterday’s victory may not have lifted them up the table, but it rekindled belief. If they can marry attractive football with greater efficiency in front of goal, the Gem Boys may yet script one of the season’s great escape stories.