Zimbabwe’s Manica Diamonds Football Club has changed hands — and with it, perhaps, its fortunes.
According to a recent report in The Herald, the struggling Premier Soccer League team, sitting near the bottom of the table after a poor start to the season, has been acquired by Africa Minerals Ventures, which wasted little time making a sparkling first impression.
Evans Kamombo, introduced as the incoming vice-president of Manica Diamonds FC under the new ownership, promised substantial rewards if players can lift the club’s performance.
“Houses and cars can be bought if we get the results that we want and that includes a possible league title.” [NewZimbabwe.com]
The new owners also moved quickly to boost morale.
According to a repost of the same report, “Africa Minerals Ventures immediately dished out US$1,000 to each player after yesterday’s handover takeover ceremony.” [NewZimbabwe.com]
Why Football Matters
This was not Africa Minerals Ventures’ first move into football. Reports indicate the company had already entered Zimbabwe’s lower divisions through the acquisition of Pacific Storm’s Eastern Region Division One franchise before stepping up to purchase Manica Diamonds FC. The immediate promotion of coaching staff from that side suggests a broader football strategy, not a casual investment.
You didn’t need a loupe to see the difference between the incoming and outgoing ownership. While the new owners were distributing cash bonuses to players, the same report said former owners Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company were dealing with unpaid wage obligations.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, commonly known as ZCDC, is the government-controlled diamond miner created to consolidate several operators in the Marange/Chiadzwa diamond fields.
As reported, “The former owners of the club, ZCDC, who owe their own employees at the mine salaries in excess of four months…” [NewZimbabwe.com]
For gem and mining observers, it is another reminder that diamond money can travel in unexpected directions — from the pit to the payroll, or from rough production to football promotion.
Whether the new backers can truly polish this club into a contender remains to be seen. But for now, Manica Diamonds may be the only diamonds whose value is now measured with goals.
Tap here to read the full feature in the Zimbabwe Herald News.
