The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THE Zimbabwean striker who is being touted as the next Jamie Vardy is dying to mix and mingle with his “brothers” in Arcadia as well as explode in Warriors colours.
Maculey Bonne, the red Leyton Orient hotshot striker who could make his competitive Warriors debut next month, has a burning desire to “cruise” the streets with the youngsters of Arcadia.
Bonne’s father Shaun grew up in the Harare suburb.
“I have my aunties and cousins in Arcadia and I speak to them quite a lot. My grandparents own a house in Arcadia also- but they have since moved to England to be closer to my dad.
“I feel like I’m from Arcadia too and when I come there one of the things I will do first is go there and see the guys there, hang with them and share stories,” said the 23-year old striker who is being linked with several English Premiership clubs.
But before the dream move to the EPL comes alive Bonne is looking forward to making his competitive Warriors debut.
The 23-year-old, who holds a British passport because he was born and raised in that country, has already kick started the process of having a Zimbabwean travel document.
He is set be named in the Warriors team for the winner takes all African Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo Brazzaville on March 24.
Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa is expected to announce his squad tomorrow or Tuesday.
“I’m ready for it (Warriors) now, Zimbabwean fans should be patient whilst I sort out my passport issue but when I come its go time,” Bonne told The Sunday Mail in an exclusive interview last week.
Bonne has been capped before, albeit in friendly matches.
He made his debut for the Zimbabwe Under-23 side and scored in a friendly match against a full-strength Morocco national team in November 2014.
Bonne then made his full international debut, again in a friendly tie, starting in Zimbabwe’s 0-1 defeat to Lesotho on November 8, 2017.
Now, the Leyton Orient striker who has been likened to Leicester City gunman Vardy by the British press, wants to become a full Zimbabwean international.
“Playing for Zimbabwe will make my family proud,” he said.
Despite playing in the National League, England’s fifth tier division, Bonne has attracted a lot of interest from EPL and Championship clubs.
Leicester City are said to see Bonne as the next Vardy following his exploits for Leyton Orient where he has scored 20 goals in 34 appearances. Vardy joined Leicester City from then National League side Fleetwood in 2012 before rising to become one of the most feared strikers in the English Premier League. He was Leicester City’s top scorer when the club stunned the world to win the EPL in 2016.
The Vardy comparison charms Bonne.
“Being compared to Jamie Vardy is everything a young striker in the Non-League dreams of. It fills me with hope.
“I am happy to have scored 20 goals already but I am still hungry to get better and go to the top,” Bonne said.
According to British Press, the Foxes are one of five Premier League teams who have shown interest in the red-hot non-league striker. Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Huddersfield are some of the teams said to be monitoring Bonne who is valued at just above $1 million.
Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare is confident Bonne will have a Zimbabwean passport by the end of the week. “He has submitted his papers at the Zimbabwean Embassy in the UK and on Monday (tomorrow) we will pick up the process from here.
“Hopefully by the end of the week he will have his passport,” said Mpandare.
The Warriors lead Group G with eight points and need at least a draw against Congo to qualify for the African Cup of Nations cup finals set for Egypt in June.
A potent striker like Bonne will certainly add firepower to Chidzambwa’s team.
