Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
BRIAN Chamboko and Ashley Dhlamini will be expected to once again lead from the front when the Zimbabwe Table Tennis team take on their Chinese counterparts this weekend.

The two teams will battle it out in the Chinese Ambassador’s Cup China-Zimbabwe table tennis tournament at Harare International School this morning.

Chamboko will be the top seed in the men’s category, while Dhlamini will lead the ladies squad.
The top-ranked Zimbabwean players will play their Chinese counterparts in this year’s edition of the annual tournament, which was introduced in 2017 as part of the Zimbabwe/China exchange programmes and sports development.

The tournament will feature Zimbabwe and Chinese men and women’s teams, as well as singles matches, with preliminaries being held today and the finals on tomorrow.

Nelson Madzokere, the Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union national technical director, said they were ready for the contest and were looking forward to end their opponents’ dominance.

“We have prepared well for this event and I am satisfied with the level of optimism within the squad.
“We have an exciting crop of young players that are coming up and, hopefully, we will be able to hold our own.
“It will be a tough competition, but I am positive that with the preparations that we have put in place, we will prevail” said Madzokere.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE 2019 National Volleyball League season resumes today, with several matches lined up at the University of Zimbabwe courts. The league will start with a women’s match between Harare City, who are the defending champions and Air Force of Zimbabwe side Manyame Falcons.

In the men’s section, The University Wolves, who are also the defending champions, face army side Black Rhinos.

Five teams — UZ Wolves, Harare City, Manyame Falcons, MSU Cobras and Support Unit — are playing in the women’s section.

In the men’s category, six teams — Black Rhinos, Spartans, NABA, Harare City, Support Unit and UZ Wolves — will be fighting for the top honours.

The league gives qualification to the Zone VI Club Championships.

Fixtures
Today: UZ Wolves v Black Rhinos, Harare City v NABA, Support Unit v Spartans Black rhinos v NABA.

Tomorrow: UZ Wolves v Support Unit, Harare City v Spartans, NABA v Support Unit, Black rhinos v Harare City.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE giants CAPS United say the decision to bring Italian coach Roberto Landi is aimed at transforming the club into a viable commercial entity that exports talent abroad. The well-travelled coach is expected to bring in experience and overseas contacts after having played and managed football in several countries. These include Belgium, Scotland, Canada, USA, Qatar, Romania, South Africa, Liberia, Zambia and in his home country.

CAPS United vice-president, Nhamo Tutisani, said the 63-year-old was expected to come in as technical director while Darlington Dodo, who recently replaced Lloyd Chitembwe, will remain head coach.

“We are still talking to him but I can say we are almost there. We are not rushing things because we don’t have to repeat mistakes of the past,’’ said Landi.

“But there should be clarity by the end of the month. Landi will come in as technical director because there are also some other tasks that we would want him to perform.

“Remember, he is coming from a rich background of experience with clubs in Europe, USA and also the Middle East, so we also want to benefit from his contacts. The whole idea is to commercialise and get value from this club. Everything that we are doing is hinged on the commercialisation thrust that we undertook at the beginning of the season.

“So, we are focusing on identifying talent and grooming our players so that they are adequately prepared for the global market.

“We want to develop the athletes because at the end of the day it’s the players who have to deliver a quality product. That is the reason we are bringing on board Landi.’’

Landi played as a goalkeeper for South Africa Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs, Piacenza, Modena, Siena, and Major Soccer League side Vancouver Whitecaps FC and New York Cosmos. Makepekepe have endured bitter-sweet marriages with expatriate coaches in the past, including Sean Connor and Mark Harrison.

Tutisani, however, believes they did their homework well before considering the negotiations with Landi. The Green Machine are confident their investment in the European coach will pay dividends in propping up the value of their brand.

“We are hoping Landi comes in hand in our commercial thrust. There are also some twinning arrangements that we are pursuing with overseas clubs and issues to do with the development of our technical department.

“Suffice to say we are also working on improving our organisational structure and at the same time we hope to continue winning matches and titles. We want CAPS United to be known as a club that entices foreign talents and at the same time as an exporter of quality players to some of the big leagues in the world.

“The primary target is Europe but if that market doesn’t thrive to our expectations, then we also have other areas like America and the Middle East where players can also play competitive football and realise better rewards,” said Tutisani.

The Harare giants are pursuing the Castle Lager Premiership title and they believe they are on the right track after climbing top of the table with a 1-0 win over Harare City during midweek.

“Some people did not give Dodo a chance when he took over but he has been bringing in the results for the team.

“He is a good coach, with vast experience.

“We have been winning some games and getting points, which is good for all the stakeholders.

“As we speak, we are still within our target. Of course, there is stiff competition this year but we have to go for the big prize.”

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Sports Reporter
FC PLATINUM will be hoping to reclaim top spot in the Castle Lager Premiership race when they host Mushowani in a re-arranged league tie at Mandava this afternoon. The Zvishavane side are in third place on the table and will meet a Mushowani Stars punching above their weight.

The champions have 39 points, two shy of the log leaders CAPS United. A win today would hand them back control of the race, while Mushowani are battling to steer away from the relegation zone. However, FC Platinum coach Lizwe Sweswe said they were not underrating their opponents.

Mushowani Stars might be the underdogs in this match, and have many issues clouding their focus, including financial challenges, but they have the capacity to throw a devastating punch. They booked a place in the Chibuku Super Cup first round by defeating Bulawayo Chiefs at the same venue a fortnight ago.

“Mushowani are playing very well, and taking into consideration that they are fighting relegation, it is going to be a tough game,’’ said Sweswe.

“But, the guys have been doing well at training, they have been working very hard to make sure we come up with a positive result.

“We are not under any pressure, and we are taking each game as it comes. Looking at the log standings, we need to win our home games to keep our campaign alive.’’

Fixtures
Today
FC Platinum v Mushowani Stars (Mandava)

Tomorrow
Triangle v Yadah Stars (Gibbo).

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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
EPWORTH is fast becoming a boxing hub in the country. Most national titles, both for professionals and amateurs, have been won by boxers from this community. Recently, Peter “Sniper” Pambeni, defied the odds to claim the World Boxing Organisation Africa lightweight title in Namibia.

Yet, most of these boxers became boxers not by design. This is a community where bullies dominate and one has to develop some sort of self-defence. This is how most of the pugilists, including Pambeni, ended up being professional boxers.

“You had to be tough if you were to survive street bullying and some of us had to turn to boxing to earn respect,’’ said Pambeni.

“You just had to master some form of self-defence to live peacefully. But, then, your perception changes as soon as you meet professional trainers. That’s how some of us became boxers. It is the case with most of the boxers here, although others join the sport for the love of it.

“Boxing can be the way out of poverty and a community like ours doesn’t offer many opportunities so one has to dice for sport, especially boxing.”

Driven by this, six professional boxers hold national titles in their respective weight categories with Enock Musambudzi (middleweight), Anyway Katunga (fly-weight), Tawanda and junior welter-weight fighter, Tawanda Chigwida, having managed to defend their crowns in the past two years. Zimbabwe National Boxing Control Board member, Patrick Mukondiwa, confirmed a number of boxers who have won the country most titles, in recent years, hail from Epworth.

“Epworth is now ahead of Mbare in terms of producing good boxers,” said Mukondiwa.

“You know, these high-density suburbs where the fittest survive, you will always see boxers flourishing. But, there are also a lot of factors behind the flourishing of boxers. There are good trainers like Thomas Kambuyi.

“The boxers themselves also deserve credit for the discipline otherwise it is always difficult to try and mould rude boxers.”

The Epworth Local Board have set up the Epworth Sports Association with the aim of developing sport in the area.

They are getting support from one of Epworth’s most illustrious sons Musekiwa Kumbula. Kumbula sponsors a number of sporting disciplines in Epworth.

Chairman of the Epworth Sports Association, Shepherd Mudzamiri, said his organisation should also be commended for its development-centred approach. “Boxing in Epworth has been on an upward trend. Epworth has abundant boxing talent.

“We also attribute the success of boxers from this community to sound management strategies. We are proud of what we have done over the years and we are working hard as a community to continue churning out champions.

“We have activated a lot of incubation strategies whereby we go into different shopping centres in the township to identify upcoming talent which we then develop into good boxers,” he said.

“One other key aspect of development which has enabled us, as Epworth, is the high level of volunteerism displayed by sportspersons in the centre.”

Mudzamiri said the sport will be introduced in Epworth schools starting this year.

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LONDON.- The English Premier League football’s elite have little time to lick their wounds from a series of blows in European competition as domestic action offers an immediate chance of redemption for Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Manchester City were the only English side to win their Champions League opener in midweek, but have problems of their own with an injury-ravaged defence exposed in a shocking 3-2 defeat to Norwich last weekend, leaving the champions five points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s men will be confident of cutting that gap as they host bottom-of-the-table Watford 24 hours before Liverpool travel to Chelsea tomorrow.

Both sides were beaten in their Champions League openers on Tuesday, but while Liverpool conceding twice late on to lose 2-0 in Napoli seems like a blip, Chelsea may have a long season of harsh lessons ahead with a young squad and equally inexperienced manager.

Frank Lampard has won just two of his first seven games in charge of the Blues and while his determination to give a number of youth academy graduates their chance has been embraced by fans, there are obvious flaws in this Chelsea side.

English Premiership Fixtures (all 4pm unless otherwise stated)

Today: Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur ( King Power Stadium 1:30pm); Manchester City v Watford (Etihad Stadium); Everton v Sheffield United (Goodison Park); Burnley v Norwich City (Turf Moor); Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion (St. James’ Park 6:30pm).

Tomorrow: West Ham United v Manchester United (London Stadium 3pm); Crystal Palace v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Selhurst Park 3pm); Arsenal v Aston Villa (Emirates Stadium 5:30pm); Chelsea v Liverpool (Stamford Bridge 5:30pm). – AFP

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE 2019 ZRP Charities horse race meeting will this year feature four runners with In The Mood one of the favourites. The race has attracted a small field as the Sable Flyers is restricted to fillies and mares only.

In The Mood, a five-year-old Bold Silvano mare, is the class horse in this four-horse field and has won seven races, mostly from 1600m to 1800m.

Off the Kirk Swanson’s yard, the runner will have Norbert Takawira on the ride while Some Song, from Gokhan Terzi’s yard, should also be confident after her only start at Borrowdale over 1000m.

The daughter of Oratorio (IRE), also a five-year-old, won a 1200m Maiden at the Vaal in March 2018.

Some Song, with Brendon McNaughton in control, will be expected to be better than stable mate Western Shamrock who has only won a 1000m Maiden Plate at the Vaal in February 2018.

This four-year-old by Philanthropist (USA) will have Hennie Greyling as the pilot while a five-year-old Byword (GB) mare Dunas Douradas, a winner of three races from 1200m — 1800m, completes the race card.

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TOKYO. — Rugby’s first World Cup in Asia kicked off in spectacular style yesterday as a South African-born winger Kotaro Matsushima scored the first hat-trick of the tournament to help the hosts Japan down Russia in the opening game 30-10 in Tokyo.

Matsushima could have had four tries, having had one disallowed as he lost the ball going over the line, but provided plenty of fireworks as he gave the local fans a lot to celebrate as the World Cup kicked off in earnest.

And it was another South African in Lappies Labuschagne, the former Cheetahs and Bulls flanker, who scored Japan’s only other try to cap a nervous start, and turn it into a solid win for the host nation.

The hosts were jittery when they started the game and were down early thanks to a poor mistake from an up and under kick, but recovered well and dominated all aspects of the game to win comfortably in the end.

It was quite the shock when Lomano Lemeki dropped the up and under with only four minutes on the clock, providing the perfect opportunity for his opposite number Kiril Golosnitskiy to pounce on the ball, break a half-hearted tackle and run through to score the opening try of the 2019 Rugby World cup.

But Japan may have looked rattled, but they settled down pretty easily afterwards, although their dominance in both possession and territory didn’t always translate into points.

It was in the 11th minute that Matsushima finally got the ball in space, and the former Sharks Academy winger didn’t make any mistake as he ran the ball in at the corner.

While flyhalf Yu Tamura didn’t convert, it felt quite apt that it would only be a matter of time before Japan took the lead.

It was just after the half-hour mark that Matsushima went over with the defence trying to drag him over the sideline, and while it seemed he had planted the ball over the line, replays and a TMO decision decided that he had lost control of the ball in the process and the try wasn’t allowed.

But just four minutes later, and just before the halftime break, Matsushima received a back-hand pass again from Timothy Lafaele to run in untouched in the same corner and put his side 12-7 ahead at the break.

The second half was a lot more scrappy and Russia slowed down play a lot to try and keep up with the Japanese, but a penalty by Tamura extended the lead before Labuschagne ripped the ball clear and stormed down the flank to score a try that would settle the result.

Russia had missed 46 tackles in the process, highlighting the difference between the two contrasting styles of play, and ultimately handing the Japanese the advantage they needed to seal the game.

Yuri Kushnarev brought Russia into double figures with a penalty but the last say for the game would be left to Matsushima, taking up a poor clearance down his wing to cross with relative ease, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a Rugby World Cup opener.

SCORERS

Japan – tries: Kotaro Matsushima (3), Lappies Labuschagne. Conversions: Yu Tamura (2) Penalties: Tamura (2)

Russia – tries: Kirill Golosnitskiy. Conversion: Yury Kushnarev. Penalty: Kushnarev. – Supersport

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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter

ARGENTINE boxer Diego Diaz Gallardo arrived in the country yesterday for the World Boxing Federation middleweight title fight against Charles Manyuchi this coming weekend at the Harare International Conference Centre.

The fight is on Saturday.

Manyuchi’s record stands at 23-4-1 having defeated Pablo Ezequiel Acosta in May at the HICC.

And as he returns to the ring on Saturday, Manyuchi will be looking at adding another win on his record.

Speaking to the media soon after his arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in the company of his manager, Gustavo Zacarias, the two-time WBF champion Gallardo said he is here for a win.

“I was a champion in Argentina, I was a champion in France and now I feel that I am going to be a champion here in Zimbabwe. I have seen Charles Manyuchi (fighting) on YouTube, I have seen his videos and he is a bit complicated in terms of boxing but I believe I am going to win.

“There is nothing much to prepare (now) except to just go and relax and just wait for the time to come, then everything will be sorted out,” said Gallardo. Manyuchi’s victory in May was against Acosta, also from Argentina, and Gallardo said although his fellow countryman fell at the hands of the former WBC champion, his will be a different case.

“It’s all about the difference in terms of psychology, I have a different psychology and he had a different psychology so it’s not the same . . . I am going to win.

“The most important thing is to have a good fight for the audience,” said Gallardo. Zacarias said his boxer has what it takes to defeat Manyuchi and is confident of victory, come Saturday.

“It’s quite interesting that for a long time we wanted to come to Africa and now the opportunity is here, so we are really happy and everything is just quiet.

“He has got a lot of experience in boxing so he is not afraid he will just come very comforted and very ready to fight,” said Zacarias.

There are nine supporting bouts lined up on the night featuring several fighters from the Charles Manyuchi Academy.

In some of the bouts Brendon Denes will trade leather with Malawi’s Gwayani in a WBF title match while Tinashe Majoni faces Anywhere Katunga.

Zambia’s Alice Mbewe is up against Ndao Chilimba of Malawi while Tatenda Biningu faces Blessing Bhasera.

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STAMFORD BRIDGE. — Liverpool retained their five-point lead at the top of the table as they became the first team to win their opening six Premier League games in successive seasons with a fiercely-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Jurgen Klopp’s title pace-setters looked on course to win in comfort as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s magnificent free-kick and Roberto Firmino’s header gave them complete control at the interval.

Chelsea, who had been denied an equaliser when Cesar Azpilicueta’s close-range effort was ruled out for offside by VAR, were in no mood to capitulate and made Liverpool fight every inch of the way to maintain that perfect record.

Tammy Abraham had chances to increase his tally of seven goals this season, particularly when he was denied by Liverpool keeper Adrian when clean through in the first half, but it was left to N’Golo Kante to set up a grandstand finish with a superb strike with 19 minutes to play. Liverpool remain unstoppable in their Premier League duel with Manchester City after one of those victories all potential champions will need to secure if they are to claim the big prize at the end of the season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have made a habit of unleashing an attacking blitz on opponents in a remarkable run of only one league loss since the start of last season, their winning sequence now extended to 15 games.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stunning free-kick helped 10-man Arsenal come from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a pulsating encounter at Emirates Stadium.

Aubameyang curled home his seventh goal of the season with six minutes remaining to complete a remarkable turnaround for the Gunners, who had Ainsley Maitland-Niles sent off after 41 minutes.

John McGinn flicked home Anwar El Ghazi’s cross to put Villa ahead after 20 minutes before Maitland-Niles was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Neil Taylor.

Arsenal levelled early in the second period thanks to Nicolas Pepe’s first goal for the club from the penalty spot only for Wesley to restore Villa’s lead from Jack Grealish’s low cross less than two minutes later.

Elsewhere, Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell earned West Ham their second successive 2-0 home win against Manchester United, who lost striker Marcus Rashford with a groin injury in the second half.

Yarmolenko opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, sending a low finish past David de Gea following patient build-up play involving Mark Noble and Felipe Anderson.

The result lifts West Ham above the Red Devils in the Premier League table, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side remain three points off the top four and without an away league win since February.

And Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo says his team’s dramatic 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace is the “starting point” for their Premier League recovery. Wolves appeared set for a fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions until Diogo Jota’s stoppage-time goal rescued a point. Despite the draw, they remain 19th and remain winless after six top-flight matches but the nature of their fightback — completed in the 96th minute and made more difficult by Romain Saiss’s dismissal for two yellow cards — has given Nuno optimism.

“This is a starting point. What we did in the first half, lets try to do over and over again.”— BBC Sport.

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BARCELONA. — Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said he was concerned about the team’s away form after they were comprehensively beaten 2-0 by promoted Granada on Saturday and he took full responsibility for the club’s worst start to a Spanish La Liga football season in 25 years.

Granada got off to a flying start when Ramon Azeez headed them in front in the second minute while Alvaro Vadillo scored from the penalty spot midway through the second half to seal the points, taking the Andalusian minnows to the top of the league.

“I’m worried because away from home we’re not getting good results. No wins from four away games this season is a clear symptom that we are not in a very good situation,” Valverde told reporters.

“Some of our players joined the squad late but we did not play well today and we have not been playing well away from home lately. We dominated the play but couldn’t manage to create many chances and we never looked like getting back into the game.”

Valverde left all-time top scorer Lionel Messi out of the starting line-up as the Argentine is still not fully fit after recovering from a calf injury he sustained in August which has prevented him from starting any games.

The coach called on his captain at halftime along with 16-year-old Ansu Fati, who had scored and provided an assist on his full debut in last week’s 5-2 drubbing of Valencia, but neither player was able to bring the team to life.

Barca are seventh in the table on seven points, their lowest total after five games since the 1994/95 campaign.

They have not won an away game in any competition since April.

Valverde also said he was concerned about Barca’s poor defence as he was reminded they were the only team in La Liga along with Real Betis to have conceded nine goals this season, and recognised that as coach he was to blame for their plight. — AFP.

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HIGASHIOSAKA. — Italy coach Conor O’Shea said his team were “disappointed” with their Rugby World Cup start after they were forced to come from behind in an error-strewn 47-22 win over lowly Namibia yesterday.

Talisman captain Sergio Parisse became only the third man to play in five Rugby World Cups but even he admitted it was “not maybe a really nice match to see” as wind and at times torrential rain lashed the Hanazono Stadium.

Often Six Nations whipping boys, Italy are targeting their October 4 clash against South Africa as a possible route to reaching the knockout stages for the first time but this patchy display will not leave the Springboks unduly worried.

“We’ll have to move on from that pretty quickly. It wasn’t very pretty. There’s too many errors in it,” said O’Shea.

“It was difficult conditions at times in the second half, which doesn’t excuse it. But we’ll be disappointed with the way we played . . . that’s not the true version of us,” said the Irishman after the bonus-point win.

Namibia’s defence coach had promised to treat fans to an impromptu haka if his minnows pulled off a shock and it was the unfancied Welwitschias who started the brightest.

The underdogs led with only five minutes on the clock, seizing on an overthrown line-out to produce a flowing move down the right flank finished off acrobatically by scrum-half Damian Stevens.

Italy hit back within minutes, a Parisse-inspired push-over in the scrum resulting in a penalty try as Namibia collapsed on their line. The Italians squandered several chances in a nervy and mistake-ridden first half but eventually took the lead in the 26th minute as they unpicked the Namibian defence for fly-half Tommaso Allan to touch down under the posts.

The champagne moment of the match came on the stroke of half-time as Federico Ruzza’s no-look pass let in Tito Tebaldi for a try, well converted to give the favourites a 21-7 lead at the break. — AFP.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

TOP table tennis players Brian Chamboko and Tian Dan were crowned the 2019 Chinese Ambassador’s Cup China-Zimbabwe table tennis tournament men and women’s champions at Harare International School yesterday.

Chamboko, a national team coach, managed to stand his ground against his Chinese opponents to claim gold.

The Zimbabwean top seed said he was happy to have won the tournament and is looking forward to do well again at the Region V championships.

“I am very happy to manage to defend my title and it was very competitive the guys gave us a good run and I hope we will have more of these tournaments in future,” said Chamboko.

Chamboko managed to defeat Wang ling Ping 3-2 to claim a gold medal as Tinashe Fambira was third to claim bronze medal as Chen Lei was fourth.

In the women’s section top seed Anesu Saringwani was defeated by Dan 3-0 as Zhang Yang was third while Ashley Dhlamini was fourth.

Zimbabwe was also defeated in the mixed doubles as Zhang Xu Shang partnered Zhang Yang to defeat the pair of Vikram Sighn and Saringwani in the finals.

The event had seen nine men and seven women from each country and Zimbabwe won 6-2 in the former and lost 6-1 in the later.

The Chinese Ambassador’s Cup was sponsored by local companies and Chinese business communities in Zimbabwe.

It is aimed at strengthening the two countries’ strong relationships and promote bilateral co-operation.

The tournament was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe and co-organised by the Zimbabwe Chinese Table Tennis Association and the Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union.

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SAPPORO. — England coach Eddie Jones insisted the Rugby World Cup was “not a 100 metre sprint” as he defended his side’s error-strewn 35-3 win over Tonga in their tournament opener in Sapporo yesterday.

Manu Tuilagi scored two first-half tries before two more after the break from Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie secured a bonus-point win that could yet prove important in a tightly contested Pool C.

England didn’t concede a try and also appeared to avoid injuries to key players ahead of a short turnaround to their second group game against the United States on Thursday.

“The only thing we have to worry about — and I’m sorry to disappoint you here — is the USA game, and we’ve just got to be a little bit better again,” Jones told reporters.

“The thing about the World Cup, having been to a few, is the World Cup is not a 100-metre sprint,” he added.

“So you don’t have to come out of the blocks and be absolutely fantastic now, what you have to be is steady, you have to be prudent and you have to have a mindset of improvement and that’s what we’ve got.”

Jones was in charge of his native Australia when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England and was a consultant to 2007 champions South Africa, before masterminding Japan’s shock win over the Springboks in England four years ago.

It was mission accomplished as far as he was concerned, for all that England made some 13 handling errors.

“We came here to get five points, we got five points. We got no injuries, we know we can play better.

“Sometimes rugby is like that, the ball just doesn’t stick,” he insisted. “We left a number of points out there.

“But I’m so pleased with the attitude of the players. That’s two Tests in a row we haven’t conceded a try. That shows a bit about the attitude of the team.” — AFP.

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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

HERENTALS remain the only team in the bottom six of the Castle Lager Premiership football league not to have replaced their coach this season and look unlikely to do so despite genuine fears they could end up being demoted.

For club owner and striker Innocent Benza, coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva is the best man for the job as he understands the club’s philosophy well.

Yet, the team is sitting precariously on third from bottom with just six points separating them and basement side Yadah.

For a team which was a marvel to watch in their maiden top-flight season last year to have fallen so low should have been a cause for worry given their current poor form but Benza has insisted the team is safe under Mutiwekuziva.

“Of course we are very much aware of second season syndromes. It’s real and affect a lot of teams around the world but we are very different.

“Last year we did extremely well for a team in their first season finishing the race on 6th place.

“And whatever the factors which combine to haunt a team in their second season seem to have also affected us,” said Benza.

“But what I can say as the club director is that the coach’s job is well secure. He (Mutiwekuziva) is very safe. In fact, he is one of the best coaches around and the fact that he understands our club’s philosophy, being one of its proponents makes him almost untouchable.

“He has the full support of the club’s executive.”

Benza expressed confidence his team will survive the chop come end of the marathon.

“As players, we are aware of the position which we find ourselves in. We are challenging ourselves as the playing staff to up our game. We have been working very hard at training trying to improve on areas where we haven’t done very well.”

The team’s defence, which was the second best after champions FC Platinum’s last season, has been their Achilles Heel this term.

They have conceded an average of a goal per match in the 22 encounters they have played.

Herentals face Chicken Inn in a rescheduled tie at Luveve on Wednesday and they have a chance to leapfrog from the mire if they manage to pick the maximum points.

“Chicken Inn are a massive team. They are enjoying their season and they will obviously be out to pick yet another win. But we know our situation and can’t afford to drop points anymore. We will be hunting for the full points though we know it will be difficult,” said Benza.

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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

PROBABLY the sizeable crowd at the National Sports Stadium yesterday never cared who he was when introduced to replace a slackening Never Tigere midway through the second stanza of this CHAN football qualifier against Lesotho until he conjured up pure magic.

The Warriors won the match 3-1 ahead of the second leg in Maseru next month.

Black Rhinos midfielder Wellington Taderera, one of the best performers in the league this season, must have been jittery coming off the bench for his first appearance at any level of the national team.

That it was a high-stakes first leg tie of the final round of the CHAN qualifier against a Lesotho side who eliminated South Africa in the last round must have send worried the Shabanie man.

But the 24-year old went on to write one of the most intriguing tales by a national team debutant with his well-worked out goal briefly giving the hosts a three-goal advantage until captain Partson Jaure’s blunder gifted Lesotho an away goal.

“I would like to thank the Warriors technical team for the faith they put in me. This is my first game in the national team and to have come from the bench and score is something incredible,” said Taderera.

Yet, the Chipembere star has always been ignored by national team coaches on previous occasions.

Taderera, one of the reasons why Black Rhinos are in the championship mix, may obviously be one of the best players in the league this season but for him to dazzle on his international debut is the kind of stuff that helps lay a firm foundation for a great future.

Receiving the ball in the Warriors half, Taderera played a one-two with Ian Nekati before picking up Prince Dube who had his back on the goal.

Under pressure, Dube laid it back for him and his voluminous drive gave the Lesotho goalkeeper no chance at all.

“I am happy for the win. To be called into the national team alone was good for me.

But then to then make it into the final squad and be thrown into the fray when the team was looking for a third goal was even more satisfying.”

He bemoaned the goal they conceded in the final moments of play but remains positive the Warriors will come out tops and secure the CHAN spot.

“I hope we will finish the job in Lesotho next month. It was a very tough match here. They were compact and the fact that they managed to score an away goal means that it is still game on.”

The media-shy midfielder, whom Black Rhinos coach Herbert Maruwa rates amongst the best 11 players in the history of the military team, said although he played well, he still has a lot to learn going forward.

“They now believe they will overturn the deficit. So we must be at our best in the next game.

“But, I am happy for my performance. I still have a lot of work to do going forward. I was jittery at the beginning but improved with a lot more touches.

“It is a dream to play for the national team and to have capped it with a goal is magnificent. I want to give credit to the technical bench and the team.

“I normally don’t want to say a lot of things, I just let my work do that for me.”

The post Taderera dazzles on Warriors debut appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Sports Reporter

FORMER Black Rhinos Queens coach Thomas Chinyan’anya has been appointed as Chapungu head coach following the departure of gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama.

Dhlakama was relieved of his duties at the Castle Lager Premiership football club over the weekend after mutual consent with the club executive.

And Chinyan’anya, who was his assistant coach at the club, will take over the hot seat.

Chinyan’anya is one of the most successful women’s football coaches in the country having worked with a number of Mighty Warriors players at Black Rhinos Queens who have the highest number of league titles.

Yesterday, club chairman Fungai Makuyana said they have released Dhlakama.

“Dhlakama . . . we have relieved him of his duties at Chapungu. We did not fire him but he put up a request that he wanted to move on that’s when he was released. We had a meeting with him so he is back at work at Air Force of Zimbabwe and what will happen from there, I don’t know that is not my job, I am the chairman of the football club.

“We will have an executive meeting on Monday (today) to map the way forward on the technical team changes now that the head coach has left but the assistant coach (Chinyan’anya) takes over and after the meeting we will know who will work with Chinyan’anya in the meantime,” said Makuyana.

This development likely suggests that the former Monomotapa gaffer, who has emerged as the one of the front-runners for the Ngezi Platinum job, might be indeed headed for the Mhondoro outfit. However, the former Young Warriors coach can only move after he has been cleared by his employer Air Force of Zimbabwe. Air Force of Zimbabwe has a large pool of coaches who were attested and sometimes are given to other civilian clubs that would have requested for their services.

Tendai Chikuni, who was Erol Akbay assistant coach at Ngezi Platinum Stars before they were both fired last week, is an employee of the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

Other Air Force of Zimbabwe coaches are Ruzive Ruzive, who was once with Yadah and is now assistant coach at Black Rhinos as well as Philip Ruzive, who was TelOne goalkeepers’ coach before the new technical team headed by Rahman Gumbo came into place.

Chapungu media liaison officer Tawanda Zowa said they have a vibrant, open policy where they usually loan their coaches and players to other clubs to gain exposure.

“We have a large pool of coaches, so we have no problem loaning them to other clubs so that they continue to gain experience and exposure.

“Our policy is the same with the players, we loan them to other clubs and this motivates the players and they return as better players. Right now Allan Tavarwisa is playing in the CAF Confederation Cup with Triangle.

The post Chapungu appoint new coach appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter

THE Sports and Recreation Commission have indicated that they are going to meet the Zimbabwe Netball Association executive to further probe the concerns that were raised by the local netball stakeholders.

This follows the submissions that were made by the national association in response to the issues raised by a group of netball stakeholders.

There are allegations that the national association has several different constitutions and that there is lack of transparency and accountability.

The Sports Commission’s corporate communications officer, Tirivashe Nheweyembwa, said after going through ZINA’s submissions in respect of the petition by the stakeholders, they want to meet the national association’s executive to have a better understanding of the concerns raised.

“Having gone through the submission made by ZINA in respect of the petition by some of their stakeholders, we have come to the conclusion that there is need for us to meet with the ZINA executive so that the matters raised are clearly understood in an open and frank manner to the satisfaction of everyone.

“It is our belief that this approach will allow for further probing of issues as opposed to limiting ourselves to written submissions. In other words, we need more details from ZINA.

“The concerns raised by the stakeholders are well understood but for the purposes of clearly understanding ZINA’s position, we thought it is important for us to meet with them before we take a position.

“We wish to reiterate that we are committed to putting the matters raised by the stakeholders to rest by the end of the month,” said Nheweyembwa. This is not the first time that the Sports Commission have had to intervene and try to bring sanity to netball. Last year there was an impasse between ZINA and the splinter league, Rainbow Amateur Netball League, that was seeking to affiliate to the local netball mother-body so that it would run its league separately from the Super League which is under ZINA. The two had failed to reach an agreement on the way forward and the Sports Commission weighed in and held separate meetings with ZINA and RANL.

According to the outcome of the meetings, ZINA was urged to accommodate the registration of other leagues that will have separate League Management Committees that would be accountable to the national association.

RANL was to apply for registration with ZINA in line with the national association’s procedures and copy to the Sports Commission.

But to date there hasn’t been much progress regarding that issue although RANL have continued with their games.

“We will deliberate all the matters and hopefully come to a common understanding,” Nheweyembwa said.

The meeting is likely to take place by the end of this week.

The post SRC to meet ZINA appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
MARVELOUS Nakamba says he is more than just another footballer, in the English Premiership, but is someone who now carries the role of sporting ambassador for his country.

The 25-year-old Warrior believes he also carries the load of having to do well at Aston Villa to try and inspire the next generation of Zimbabwean footballers desperate for such a huge break.

Nakamba featured in his second English Premiership match against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, where the 10-man Gunners showed remarkable resilience to twice come from behind and win a five-goal thriller 3-2.

Gabonese international forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, scored the late winner.

Villa manager, Dean Smith, kept Nakamba in the first XI, after being impressed by his club man-of-the-match performance on his league debut in the goalless draw home draw against West Ham, while highly-rated Brazil Under-21 captain Douglas Luiz was pushed out of the team.

“I had a decision to make,” Smith revealed in his post-match interview on Twitter. “Trezeguet came back and I’ve got Conor (Hourihane), Henri (Lansbury) and Douglas.

“I was pleased with Marvelous’ (Nakamba) performance against West Ham United and I just felt I didn’t need three midfielders on the bench, I needed Keinan Davis and Jota on there as well.

“Two defenders, two midfielders and two forwards.”

Nakamba featured for 84 minutes at the Emirates as part of a three-man midfield that also included goal-scorer, John McGinn, and skipper Jack Grealish.

After the match at the Emirates, Nakamba spoke to fellow Zimbabwean, Stanley Kwenda, a journalist and producer of the BBC “Where Are They Now’’ series.

The midfielder said his appearance in the English Premiership was more than just football, but something bigger than the game, including promoting the profile of his country and being a role model for millions of young Zimbabweans who also dream of such big breaks.

“It’s good for my country to have someone representing them and I also think it’s good for the upcoming players, the young ones back home,” he told Kwenda in an article he filed for BBC Sport.

“I think they can believe and have faith that nothing is impossible.

“My family back home are proud of me. They are always watching me, they are pushing me and I just want to keep on representing them and try my best and keep on learning.

“The Premier League standard is higher when compared to the Belgian league but, of course, in Belgium I played Champions League with Club Brugge.

“Champions League and Premier League is almost similar and so it’s been good.

“This is my first year here, I am still trying to settle, to learn and give everything every time I am given the opportunity to play. I am proud to be part of a great team with a great history like Aston Villa. It’s an opportunity for me to learn and do my best and try to give everything.”

Nakamba said he now has to inspire the next generation of Zimbabwean footballers the way his pursuit for a place in the Premiership was also inspired by Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mwaruwari.

“It’s something that keeps pushing me. It gives me confidence, faith and belief in myself,” Nakamba told Kwenda.

The Zimbabwean midfielder was confident, ahead of Villa’s trip to the Emirates, he would keep his place in the team after his solid show against West Ham and says his teammates and the Villa staff have been helping him settle.

“It’s been a case of so far, so good. It’s been fantastic,’’ he told his club’s official website.

“Everyone is helping me to settle, I’m pushing myself as well. My team-mates have done everything to make me feel good, too.

“There is always room for improvement and it can get better. But I feel good, I’ve had the experience of my debut.

“Given the opportunity, I will tell myself to give everything every time, in football there are no limits, There is always room for improvement.

“You can always get better and better and better. Compared to other leagues, the Premier League is different level. Now I want to improve.’’

Ashley Preece, the dedicated Aston Villa reporter at The Birmingham Mail, gave Nakamba a 5 out of 10 in his player ratings for the Arsenal match.

“Was fine in the first period anchoring the midfield, but couldn’t cope in the second half as Guendouzi stepped it up amidst a barrage of pressure,’’ Preece noted.

“May have found speed and strength of Arsenal too much — didn’t take sting out of Arsenal as they broke forward. In the end, it was tough going.

Goal-scorer, McGinn, said Villa were, once again, found lacking in their game management at the Emirates.

“That is two weeks in a row that teams down to 10 men have affected us badly. We have addressed it in the dressing room,’’ he told BirminghamLive.

“I don’t know if it is a lack of belief or tiredness, which it shouldn’t be. We should be creating the chances but we weren’t.

“We showed we are dangerous and scored a good goal, concede one and then show it again. But we got deeper and deeper and you can’t do that.

“It is game management. It has cost us dearly this season. When you force pressure on yourself you get punished. We need to capitalise when things go for us in the game.”

The post More than just a footballer, Nakamba is now a diplomat appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
TO get a rough idea of how good, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith believes Marvelous Nakamba is, one has to look at the talented Brazilian the Zimbabwean has replaced in the team’s midfield.

Douglas Luiz, the 21-year-old Brazil Under-23 captain, featured in Villa’s first English Premier League matches, and scored a goal, before being pushed onto the bench in the Monday Night football battle against West Ham.

Nakamba was thrown into his place, in the starting XI, with the Brazilian coming in to replace the Zimbabwean in the final 10 minutes of that goalless match.

However, against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, Luiz was left out of the squad with Nakamba again preferred for a place in the starting XI.

“I had a decision to make,” Smith said in his post-match interview on Twitter. “Trezeguet came back and I’ve got Conor (Hourihane), Henri (Lansbury) and Douglas.

“I was pleased with Marvelous’ (Nakamba) performance against West Ham United and I just felt I didn’t need three midfielders on the bench, I needed Keinan Davis and Jota on there as well.’’

Luiz joined Manchester City from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama three years ago, but after being frustrated by work permit issues and a failure to break into the first team, he was loaned to Spanish side Girona where he enjoyed two successful spells.

That alerted Villa and Smith said he went for him after City manager, Pep Guardiola, had spoken highly of the Brazilian.

“He’s Pep’s loss and my gain,’’ Smith told BirminghamLive.

“I met Pep at the League Managers’ meeting and he spoke to me then, he was very disappointed they couldn’t get that work permit.

“Pep said, ‘You’ve got a really good lad there’. There is no better endorsement for the boy.”

Guardiola said the Brazilian midfielder had immense talent.

“It’s difficult for me to understand,” he told reporters. “For one guy who doesn’t see the player and is not every day in the training session he has to judge.

“(Douglas) has ability, quality to play and we decide he can play. I accept the rules but I don’t understand, anyone in the world can work where he wants.

“The national manager for Brazil (Tite) and myself we know more than the guys who decide he is not able to play.”

Now, in the last two league matches, that outstanding Brazilian talent has been kept out of the Villa side by Nakamba.

The post Just keeping out Brazilian star means a lot appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.