Nkosilathi Sibanda in BULAWAYO
Arenel Movers…………………………………0
Manica Diamonds……………………………1
MANICA Diamonds made it four wins on the trot when they edged plucky newcomers Arenel Movers in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Luveve yesterday.
The Gem Boys struck in the 55th minute through Farai Banda.
The hosts did not recover from that setback although, at the start of the match, they had looked the better side. Arenel Movers would be left to rue chances created by Grant Chingwenhese, whose pass released Kudzaishe Dzingwe but he could not provide the finishing touch.
Moments later Njabulo Ngwenya fly into the defensive wall.
Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera, said: “The win doesn’t reflect the fight that was between the two teams. I respect the Arenel Movers team. I think they were more organised in terms of defending, they fought right through.
“But, overall, I think we were much better in the first 20 to 30 minutes but we were sluggish and had to re-adjust the movement of our players. We have good wingers and, in terms of defending, I think so far so good, three or four games without conceding.
“We were so much organised in terms of defending but, when going forward, our transition was excellent.”
Arenel coach, Farai Tawachera, was visibly disappointed.
“Fatigue is now creeping into our players considering that we were in Kariba previously. The distance is long, we tried to rest on Monday, prepare on Tuesday and Wednesday but nothing much. We have got limited resources in terms of players.
“We tried to shuffle players today but we didn’t click. The guys who came in the second half haven’t played much, so we were trying to see if their legs are fresh by throwing them in there. But, the rhythm wasn’t there and the cohesion to play as a team wasn’t there.”