The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
MARVELOUS NAKAMBA’S future at Aston Villa continues to be the subject of speculation, but the Warriors star midfielder started for the Claret and Blue against Watford at Vicarage Road yesterday on the opening weekend of the English Premier League.
The 27-year-old Nakamba headlined an array of Zimbabwe international players who returned to action for the 2021-2022 season in various foreign leagues.
It is a massive boost for the Warriors, who have not had any warm-up matches ahead of their crucial World Cup qualifier against South Africa on September 3. Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic, who is back in Croatia on compassionate leave, has already drawn up his preferred list of players and is banking on key players like Nakamba getting game time before the crunch tie against Bafana Bafana.
In the absence of regular starter Douglas Luiz, Nakamba partnered John McGinn at the base of the Aston Villa midfield, in a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw Anwar El Ghazi and Ashley Young operating from the flanks, with new signing Emi Buendia playing just behind another new arrival, Danny Ings.
Nakamba has so far been linked with moves to either Everton or Crystal Palace.
Watford have also reportedly entered the race to sign the Zimbabwean before the transfer window closes on August 31.
Rising left-back Jordan Zemura made his second consecutive start for Championship side AFC Bournemouth, who played Nottingham Forest yesterday. The 21-year-old Zemura is slowly maturing into a fine player who is already receiving rave reviews from his coach Scott Parker. He is expected to fight for the Warriors left wing-back position with Mamelodi Sundowns’ new signing Devine Lunga, who is set for a recall for national duty.
Lunga’s Sundowns face Khama Billiat’s Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 quarter-final match at Lucas Moripe Stadium today.
Striker Knox Mutizwa and left-back Onismor Bhasera — both expected to be in the World Cup squad — started for their respective South African clubs, as Golden Arrows squared up against SuperSport United in another MTN8 quarter-final yesterday.
Mutizwa grabbed Arrows’ opener in the 50th minute before he was substituted 21 minutes later.
The ageless Bhasera is set for another Warriors’ call-up after impressing when Zimbabwe beat Botswana 1-0 in March to book a place at next year’s African Cup of Nations finals.
Newly installed Wigan Athletic skipper Tendai Darikwa also featured in a League One match against Rotherham yesterday, as did Plymouth defender Brendon Galloway against Gillingham.
But former Leicester City striker Admiral Muskwe was on the bench for Luton, who played West Bromwich Albion in a Championship match at The Hawthorns.
Olympic Lyon forward Tino Kadewere is expected to start for the French giants, who travel to Angers today.
Kadewere, who is recovering from a thigh injury, was an unused substitute in Lyon’s opening fixture against Brest last weekend.
Also set for a starting role in the French Ligue 1 is Marshall Munetsi, whose side Reims host Montpellier today.
