Manica Diamonds upbeat ahead of FC Platinum fixtur...

Manica Diamonds upbeat ahead of FC Platinum fixture

Ngezi Platinum skipper Chakoroma in trouble for assaulting referee - NewZimbabwe.com — Liberty Chakoroma

Philemon Jambaya

Manica Diamonds captain Liberty Chakoroma believes they have a chance to make a huge statement of intent when they take on FC Platinum at Mandava this weekend.

It will be a reality check for the Gem Boys, who have been flying high of late, winning their last two matches in good fashion.

They netted seven goals in those two games. Forward Fortune Binzi has solely scored five goals in the last two games.

Chakoroma, who was being deployed as a central defender in their opening fixtures, has now been shifted to his preferred midfield role and it seems to be paying off for the Mutare side.

“It’s good that we have rediscovered our best form and it’s now up to the players to maintain that.

“We are playing FC Platinum, they have been the champions of this league in the past four seasons, and we don’t need the coach’s emphasis on what this match means to us.

“But, they have been losing of late, it means if we pay attention to detail we can also get a positive result and everyone should just come to the party for this to happen,” said Chakoroma.

“We need to try our best to be consistent, the league is still open for everyone but we should try our best to keep pace with the favourites.

“Everyone seems to be excited ahead of this match because we are playing an organised side and these are the fixtures which we are expected to perform well.

“Coach, Jairos Tapera has been telling us to treat this fixture the same way we have been treating our previous matches.

“But, we are going to try our best to get a positive result and it’s my hope that we travel to Mandava with a full strength squad without anyone picking an injury,” he said.