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Probe referees, PSL pleads with Zifa

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THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has called on local soccer governing body Zifa to probe referees amid allegations of poor match officiating that reportedly resulted in violence flaring up in games involving the country’s top three clubs on Wednesday.

Games involving Dynamos, Caps United, ZPC Kariba and Highlanders were all marred by violence.

A match between Dynamos and champions FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium had to be stopped for 16 minutes as the home supporters rained missiles onto the pitch in protest over referee Brighton Chimene’s decision to ignore a penalty appeal when striker Evans Katema went down following a challenge by FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari.

Katema was instead booked for assimilation, further infuriating the Dynamos supporters, already frustrated by Chimene who had earlier on disallowed Jarrison Selemani’s goal from an indirect free-kick.

While Chimene may have been correct to rule out the effort when Selemani scored directly from the kick, when the ball should have first come into contact with another player from either team, it did not improve his CV in the eyes of the spectators.

The penalty appeal decision effectively helped tip over the scales, with fans pelting Mhari every time he tried to take his position on goal. Twice the missiles landed on him, and he had to be attended to by the team’s doctors.

Video footage circulating on social media shows that Chimene may have made the wrong call, as Mhari looked like clattering on the dreadlocked striker who had been sent clean through on goal. The match which ended goalless, only resumed after the Dynamos executive pleaded with the supporters to calm down.

PSL, while condoning the hooliganism that followed, feels that the mistakes that match officials have been making of late are far too many, and Zifa should investigate them.

“The Premier Soccer League is appalled by skirmishes and match disturbances that took place during PSL fixtures played on Wednesday. The PSL strongly condemns the unacceptable behaviour witnessed at Rufaro during a match between Dynamos and FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba versus Highlanders at Nyamhunga and Chicken Inn versus Caps United at Barbourfields,” PSL said in a statement yesterday.

“Hooliganism has no place in our football and as such we urge football fans, players and administrators to respect the referee’s decision, to abide by the rules and regulations of the competition and to act in a responsible manner. We also call upon the Zifa referees committee to investigate the clubs’ complaints of poor match officiating.”

At Barbourfields, the match between Chicken Inn and log leaders Caps also had stoppages as the away supporters threw missiles onto the field after referee Happy Mabhena had awarded a questionable penalty to the home team.

Caps players walked off the pitch in protest and only returned after some lengthy discussions to see Passmore Bernard converting the penalty.

Chicken Inn won the match 1-0. Allegations are that the Caps players manhandled the match referee and security details at full time, and also destroyed property in the dressing rooms.

In Kariba, in the match against hosts ZPC Kariba and Highlanders, there was also commotion as players from both sides scuffled while supporters in the stands engaged in their own war following the expulsion of Prince Dube who was shown a red card by referee Tatenda Bvekerwa for a stamp on goalkeeper Future Sibanda.The chaotic scenes caused a five-minute match stoppage Zifa yesterday said the rogue elements would be identified and brought to book.

“We have seen footage circulating on social media depicting acts of hooliganism and violent scenes in some PSL matches played yesterday (Wednesday). We are waiting for match commissioners’ reports which we will study meticulously. However, let me hasten to state that violence and hooliganism have no place in our beautiful game. Hooliganism belongs to the Homo erectus era when human beings were still learning to walk. We are now in the new millennium where football celebrates tenets of fair play, respect, peace and tranquillity,” Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said.

“The association will also examine the footage and all these heinous elements causing mayhem will be identified and brought to book. In the process, Zifa will also invoke football statutes to ensure that these ghastly and violent elements are banned from attending our matches. We also appeal to the police to ensure that these hoodlums are prosecuted,” he
added.

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Chaos at Rufaro

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BY HENRY MHARA

DYNAMOS…………………………0
FC PLATINUM…………………..0

DYNAMOS could find themselves in trouble with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) after their supporters turned rowdy, protesting against a penalty decision and caused stoppages in yesterday’s league match against FC Platinum at Rufaro Stadium.

The game was stopped for 16 minutes as a section of the home supporters rained missiles on the pitch.

Already frustrated after Jarrison Selemani’s goal from a free kick was disallowed for a foul earlier on, the supporters became unruly, protesting over referee Brighton Chimene’s decision to ignore a penalty appeal when striker Evans Katema went down inside the box following a challenge by FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari.

In the ensuing melee, Mhari was pelted by the supporters housed at the Mbare end of the stadium and had to be attended to by his team’s medics before continuing with the game.

The incident happened on the 79th minute and the match only resumed after the Dynamos management, led by chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze, intervened to plead with the supporters.

There were also isolated incidences of missile-throwing by the Dynamos supporters at the Vietnam stand in the first half, as the Glamour Boys’ fans protested against almost every decision by the referees.

The Harare giants are likely to face PSL sanctions for their supporters’ unruly behaviour.

Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya said his team should have been awarded the penalty.

“From where I was sitting, it was a penalty. There was clear contact so any stupid contact in the box is a penalty, but the referee saw otherwise. He was closer to action, but even though from far away and the terraces, it was clear that there was contact. He (Mhari) actually lunged on Evans; he went with his feet and brought down Evans, but at the end of the day he (referee) is the man in charge and can make such decisions, so he decided otherwise.”

Asked about the behaviour of the team’s supporters, Ndiraya said: “I don’t condone such behaviour, but sometimes if you are provoked, what do you do? They thought their team was being treated unfairly, so they are right to do that. What I am not happy about is that, of course, they can voice their anger, but in another way. The era of disturbing play is long gone.

There are other better ways of raising concerns.”

The result was Dynamos’ sixth straight draw, but Ndiraya was impressed with the performance.

“This is a draw which I am satisfied with.”

FC Platinum coach Lizwe Sweswe was happy too to walk away with a point, considering that their rivals in the title race also dropped points.

The first half was a quiet affair with both teams failing to create meaningful chances.

In contrast, the second half was full of incidences. Two minutes into the half, Dynamos had the ball in the back of the net, but the effort was ruled out.

The referee awarded an indirect free kick, but Jarrison fired directly into the nets and Chimene gave a foul.

Then the major highlight of the match arrived when Katema was put through and tried to round off Mhari before going down. The striker was yellow-carded for assimilation, a decision that did not go down well with a section of the home supporters.

Teams

Dynamos: S Chinani, E Jalayi, T Mawadza, T Muringai, T Chisi, R Sackey, A Gutu, Masilelo, Jarrison, E Sadomba (75′), E Katema

FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, G Bello, W Stima, T Chikore, D Chafa (G Nsiala, 63′), R Pavari, G Mbweti, R Chinyengetere, N Tigere (M Dube, 94′), P Chikwende

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Hope for Euro-born Warriors

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BY HENRY MHARA

THE Warriors technical team says they are hopeful that they will manage to naturalise all the Europe-born players named in the provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Botswana and Zambia next month.

Coach Joey Antipas yesterday named a 32-member squad which includes seven players born in Europe, who will need to obtain Zimbabwean passports to feature for the Warriors.

These are Douglas Nyaupembe, Tivonge Rushesha, Jordan Zemura and Cliff Moyo playing in lower leagues and developmental sides of English and Welsh. Jonah Fabisch, the son of former Warriors coach Reinhard, who is in the books of Bundesliga side Hamburger SV has also been called up.

Charlton Athletic forward Macauley Borne, who has long been admired by Antipas, has also been included in the squad. The striker, who has already played for Zimbabwe in unofficial matches has publicly stated his desire to feature for the Warriors.

Defender Adam Chicksen of Bolton Wanderers, another player who has played for Zimbabwe in unofficial matches, is also in the 32-man squad.

“We are very hopeful that they will all get the passports,” Warriors manager Wellington Mupandare said yesterday. “I am working with the relevant ministries to make sure that the process is expedited so that all the players selected by the coach will be available.”

Antipas has named what appears to be a very strong squad for the two Group H fixtures, recalling some of the seniors, including Marvellous Nakamba of Aston Villa and skipper Knowledge Musona.

Zimbabwe host Botswana on November 15, before meeting Zambia away four days later. The group also includes African champions Algeria, who the Warriors will meet later in the campaign.

Ronald Pfumbidzai and Tino Kadewere have also bounced back in the squad. The four were overlooked in the team’s 2022 World Cup preliminary round qualifiers against Somalia.

This is the first time that the crew return to the national team since Zimbabwe exited the Afcon finals in June.

Provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka), Martin Mapisa (Velez CF), Simbarashe Chinani (Dynamos)

Defenders: Douglas Nyaupembe (Stockport County), Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba), Tivonge Rushesha (Swansea), Cliff Moyo (Kidderminister Harriers), Divine Lunga (Golden Arrows), Adam Chicksen (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic), Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor), Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids), Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds), Kelvin Moyo (Chippa United)

Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United), Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu), Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Ovidy Karuru (Amazulu), Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Phenias Bamusi (Caps), Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV)

Strikers: Admiral Muskwe (Leicester), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Bidvest Wits), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Knowledge Musona (Anderlecht), Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Macauley Bonne (Charlton Athletic), Evans Rusike (SuperSport)

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British Brigade relish Warriors call-up

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Albert Marufu in LONDON, England
UNITED Kingdom-based youth sensations, Tivonge Rushesha and Jordan Zemura, are excited at being drafted into the Warriors for the 2021 AFCON qualifiers. Swansea City development side’s Rushesha (17), who represented Wales Under-17 twice last year, and Zemura (19) of AFC Bournemouth Under-21, are part of a generation of players raised in the Europe with Zimbabwean roots.

They were included in coach Joey Antipas’ 32-member squad.

The others are Stockport City’s Douglas Nyaupembe, Adam Chicksen of Bolton Wanderers, Cliff Moyo, Charlton Athletic’s Macauley Bonne and Jonah Fabisch, who plays for Hamburger SV in Germany.

They become the latest United Kingdom-based players to retrace their roots following the footsteps of Tendayi Darikwa, Aleck Mudimu, Admiral Muskwe and Moyo.

Team manager Wellington Mpandare, the Mistry Chipere led Zimbabwe Foreign Legion and Team Zimbabwe UK have been fronting the crusade.

The Warriors, who are in Group H of the 2021 AFCON qualifiers that includes Botswana, Algeria and Zambia, get their campaign rolling against Botswana at Barbourfields on November 15 before travelling to Zambia four days later.

Rushesha, who counts Benjani Mwaruwari and Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba among his role models, described the call-up to the Warriors as an honour.

“I feel privileged to be in such a position. I have followed the Africa Cup of Nations on television and have heard a lot about CAPS United from my father who always talks about (the late) Joel Shambo.

‘‘I visit Zimbabwe very often, on average every two years, because that’s where I was born and it’s home.

“I always enjoy spending time with my extended family – loads of brothers and sisters,” said Rushesha who moved to the United Kingdom in 2003.

Rushesha, who can play either in midfield or as a full back, added: “I watched the recent tournament in Egypt and I follow Nakamba, who is an amazing player.

‘‘I am still developing as a player, still learning and still has a long way to go. I am enjoying my football development that I have been afforded by Swansea AFC.”

He, however, expressed doubt if he will be able to renew his Zimbabwean passports on time before Zimbabwe’s next match.

“My Zimbabwean passport expired and the national team manager has been in touch and he is aware that I will not be able to make the squad this time,” he said.

London-born Zemura, whose Zimbabwean passport has also expired and is being renewed, encouraged others to retrace their roots.

“I am humbled and honoured to represent my country. I feel a sense of joy and determination to help my country succeed in everything I do. What excites me is playing with the new generation of Zimbabwean footballers and the youth who are all across Europe but wouldn’t have thought about playing for Zimbabwe.

“The opportunity to spark a nation, put belief and hope in the young Zimbabweans who want to see their country at the World Cup, it excites me,” said Zemura, who last visited Zimbabwe in 2015.

Asked about his knowledge of Zimbabwean football, Zemura said: “I know quite a bit and I know some of the players.

‘‘As a young player you always check on your country and look to see who’s playing and looking for the development of players as well.

“My family is heavily involved in football and have been for sometime and they have been informed before and told me about the football back home,” Zemura said.

Just like Rushesha, he also counts Nakamba and Benjani among his Zimbabwean football heroes.

‘‘For me, personally, it means the world and I’m very excited to be given the opportunity, also it’s a very good moment for me and my family, who follow me every step of the way!

‘‘Bournemouth are a brilliant club and have helped me a lot. They are excited for me and expecting good things from this.”

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England seek inspiration from Sir Alex

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YOKOHAMA. – England coach Eddie Jones heads into a Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand today taking inspiration from legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Kick-off is at 10am Zimbabwean time.

Today’s fixture in Yokohama will be the key fixture of Jones’s four-year reign, with the veteran Australian making no secret of his desire to lead England to World Cup glory. But they face the toughest challenge possible this weekend, with reigning champions New Zealand having not lost a World Cup match since a 2007 quarter-final defeat by France.

England have won just seven out of 41 Tests against New Zealand, with their last victory back in 2012.

However, in their only previous match against the All Blacks under Jones, in November last year, England pushed them close before losing 16-15.

When Ferguson took over as manager of Manchester United in 1986 he said he wanted to knock Liverpool, then the dominant side in the English game, “off their perch”. Ferguson’s trophy-laden reign at Old Trafford was proof of how he lived up to his words, and Jones said he now wants England to follow suit. “That’s what we’ve got the opportunity to do. When you’ve been involved in rugby the country you want to knock off is New Zealand because they’ve been the best,” Jones said. – AFP

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Exide Sevens tourney begins

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
ALL is set for an expanded second edition of Exide Sevens Rugby Series at Belgravia Sports Club today, with 23 teams, from in and outside Harare, expected to take part.

The tournament will be sponsored by Chloride Zimbabwe and will have the teams drawn into four pools for men and a single pool for women in a round-robin format.

Notable absentees will be defending champions Harare Sports Club, who have opted to travel to Zambia for another tournament.

Teams expected from outside Harare include Bindura University (Mashonaland Central), Mutare Sports Club (Manicaland), Southern City (Mashonaland West) and Gweru Sports Club (Midlands). Harare Province will be well represented with reigning league and cup champions Old Hararians, Dubai 7s-bound Old Georgians and 2018 losing finalists Pitbulls. The women’s battles will see Harare Challenge Cup champions Police Defenders taking on U-21 Champions Zimbiru.
Harare Province Rugby Board secretary Shingi Vere said they were pleased to be hosting the tourney.

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Rhinos’ Taderera demands maturity

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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
BLACK Rhinos midfielder Wellington Taderera has demanded maturity from his teammates ahead of their Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final clash against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab this afternoon. Taderera has had a good season, culminating in his call-up into the national team.

He was away with the Warriors last Saturday, when Black Rhinos suffered their worst defeat, a 3-0 loss, at the hands of relegation-haunted Herentals.

“Ngezi Platinum Stars are one of the best teams around,’’ he said. “They are particularly dangerous when playing at home.
“If one looks at their statistics, when playing at Baobab, they will see that they are a difficult club to beat.
“We need to be at our best to upstage them. This is a game of wits and maturity comes to play,” he said.

Chibuku Super Cup Quarter-Final Fixtures
Today: Ngezi Platinum Stars v Black Rhinos (Baobab)
Tomorrow: Highlanders v FC Platinum (B/F)
Manica Diamonds v ZPC Kariba (Vengere)
Postponed: Harare City v Triangle

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Young women footballers settle in England

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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
TWO young Zimbabwean female footballers, who have found a home in a fourth-tier team in England, believe their move will inspire more women to secure contracts outside the country.

Twenty-one-year-olds, Mitchel Nyakatsapa and Natasha Ndowa, joined a London-based semi-professional team called New London Lioness this year. Their one-year contract is perfomance-based and will be reviewed when the season ends in May.

They are the first Zimbabwe-born players to play in an English League division. They are competing in the amateur competitive women’s association football league based in Greater London. The league is affiliated with the Amateur Football Alliance, Middlesex County Football Association and London Football Association.

The team is in the same league with Watford ladies, Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient.

Although their league is in the fourth-tier in the England Women football pyramid, the experience and exposure they are getting is priceless.

The Herald caught up with Nyakatsapa, who plays in midfield, and said she is enjoying her football.

“I have settled very well at the club. I feel so good to land this opportunity and I am learning a lot about football.

“I am sure my football will develop tremendously and will also contribute to my national team in the near future,” she said.

New London Lioness began their season in September and have so far played three games and won all their matches. And she has scored once.

Before the move to Europe, Nyakatsapa, a former Young Warriors player, was the captain of Maningi Queens and scored 12 goals in the league. She is also a former Glen View High 1 pupil under the Ten Toes Africa Educational scholarship.

Ndowa, who is at home both as an attacking midfielder or striker, has also featured for the Under-20 national team .

She was spotted by Maningi Queens club officials when she was 16 and taken to Harare where she was enrolled under the Ten Toes Africa programme.

She was once drafted into the national team for the Olympic qualifiers and COSAFA Cup.

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Chinani attracts interest from Russian club

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Sports Reporter
SIMBA CHINANI, the Dynamos goalkeeper who has forced his way into the Warriors, has been offered a trial stint with an undisclosed team in Russia’s top-flight league. The Russian side, who are regular features in the UEFA Champions League, want Chinani for trials and is he impresses he will be sent on loan to a Spanish team.

The Russians will then expect to bring back Chinani in June next year to take over as their first-choice goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper’s trials have been facilitated by the scouts led by Nigerian national Moo Muhammad Mustapha, who lives in Russia, and is the general co-ordinator of what has been dubbed ‘‘Africa’s biggest scouting event.’’

Mustapha’s team have been in the country for the past week.

‘‘This is to confirm another trial offer by a top division team, a UEFA Champions League team in Russia for Dynamos goal-stopper Chinani Simbarashe this January,’’ Mustapha said in a statement released yesterday,

‘‘If the goalkeeper passes the trials, he will be sent out to a team in Spain on loan and return after the contract of the first choice goalkeeper of the Russian big spenders contract expires in June.

‘‘We are expecting another offer from Greece before the end of tomorrow. That will be four offers in five days.

‘‘Regardless of the difficult environment/condition we have proven beyond reasonable doubt that we have what it takes to put Zimbabwe on the world pap and be helping as many players as possible move yearly.’’

Last weekend, the visitors – who have been working with former Zimbabwe international Dickson Choto and ex-CAPS United defender Charles Manjera – held two days of trials at Prince Edward School.

‘‘About 266 people participated at Prince Edward School from the ages of 11 to 25, a total of five kids from 11 to 16 years were selected and also six professional players were picked after the event from 19th to 21st.

‘‘Among the professional players selected, we already had two offers from a Russian team for a right back, Marvelous Chigumira, and Nigel Katawa, a defensive midfielder.

‘‘We got their invitation barely 24 hours after the event at Prince Edward which has never happened before in any scouting event in Africa or the world at large.

‘‘Furthermore, 11 year-old Cole Tsamba was given a scholarship to see him through his education until he is 17 years and we will pay his school fees and bills.

‘‘The other four kids were registered into a better academy and we will provide their playing kits until they get to the age when they can also be taken to Europe.

‘‘Our agency has proven beyond reasonable doubt that we are here to help the youths of Zimbabwe, create jobs and develop talents.

‘‘We urge the Government, individuals, sport lovers and all good citizens of Zimbabwe to support us so that we all can use this platform to help boost the economy through sports and also put Zimbabwe on the world map.’’

Mustapha arrived in the country together with a Portuguese scout Miguel Angelo Ferreira Almeida.

Mustapha is part of the Dynamic African Stars Agency, whose headquarters are in Nigeria, and is on a mission to “discover grassroots talents and connect them to their dreams.’’

They say they were committed to recruiting talent, which in countries like Zimbabwe, could go unnoticed by some European clubs and then use their connections to tie down such players to their dream move.

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Robson Sharuko on Saturday: B for Barbourfields, B for Bramall Lane, B for Bosso, B for the Blades, it’s all just romantic

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THERE’S something romantic about Bramall Lane — just like Anfield, it has its own stand called the Kop, where the most passionate fans of Sheffield United are found.

You feel the raw outpouring of love between the fans and their team.

On August 15, 1992, Brian Deane scored the first goal, in the era of the English Premiership, in front of the Kop at Bramall Lane, putting Sheffield United in front after just five minutes, against Manchester United.

Latter-day Liverpool fans might erroneously believe the Kop is an exclusive part of Anfield, but the reality is that it’s a stand found at a number of stadiums — Leeds’ Elland Road, Portsmouth’s Fratton Park, Birmingham City’s St Andrews, Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough and Leicester City’s King Power.

As incredible as it sounds today, the first recorded reference to a Kop stand, at a football stadium, was at Arsenal’s Manor Ground in 1904.

When Peter Ndlovu was excelling at Coventry City, their home ground, Highfield Road, also had the Kop stand until it was demolished in 2006.

Marvelous Nakamba’s home ground, Villa Park, used to have the largest of all Kop ends in football, with a carrying capacity of 30 000 fans, before the all-seater changes came about and it was renamed the Holte End.

At the Parc des Princes, the home of Paris Saint Germain, it’s called the Kop of Boulogne.

Those who brought this concept to English football felt the steep nature of the stands, where the die-hard fans would stand in numbers, and the trademark roof, resembled soldiers standing on a hill outside Ladysmith, in South Africa.

Fighting the Battle of the Spion Kop during the Second Boer War in January 1990.

Given it’s a name that originated from across the Limpopo, I don’t understand why they didn’t make the Soweto stand, where the die-hard Bosso fans are found at Barbourfields, a Kop stand.

Maybe, because Soweto has an original touch, and also resonates with the significance of how that part of Johannesburg has profoundly shaped events in this part of the continent.

Bramall Lane, where Sheffield United beat Arsenal 1-0 on Monday, is also steeped in history.

It hosted the world’s first floodlit football match on October 14, 1878, and having staged the England/Scotland match on October 4, 1883, it is now officially acknowledged as the oldest international football stadium in the world.

In 1867, the first Cup final in football was also staged at Bramall Lane with Hallam FC winning the Youdan Cup.

Some things are just meant to happen, especially when it comes to the special relationship between greatness and the iconic venues where it is paraded and, on April 30, 2004, Bramall Lane also provided the stage for Peter Ndlovu’s farewell match in English football.

The final chapter of an adventure that had started in the old English First Division on September 24, 1991, in a 1-1 draw away at Queens Park Rangers.

A 13-year odyssey which, if we remove that short loan spell at Huddersfield Town, will reveal he played all his football in England for three clubs — Coventry City, Birmingham City and Bramall Lane — whose home grounds had the Kop stand.

And, probably fittingly, his best performance in England came at Anfield, in front of the world-famous Kop, on March 14, 1995 when he fired a hattrick for Coventry City in a 3-2 win over Liverpool.

That he was the first visiting player to score a hattrick at Anfield, since 1962, when Terry Allock scored three times for Norwich in a 4-5 losing cause for Norwich, put the special nature of Peter Ndlovu’s achievement, that unforgettable day, into perspective.

FORTY YEARS AFTER THE JUNGLEMAN FIRST ARRIVED, THE GEMS ARE STILL COMING FROM THE SOUTH
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the year Bruce Grobbelaar first arrived in English football when he joined then fourth-tier side Crewe Alexandra on December 18, 1979, on loan from Canadian team Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Jungleman had initially been invited to join West Bromwich Albion by manager Ron Atkinson but, after running into challenges to secure a permit to join the then top-flight side, he moved to Crewe Alexandra in the lower leagues.

It also was a landmark year, in English football, as Nottingham Forest became the first club to pay a £1million transfer fee to sign Trevor Francis from Birmingham while Peter Shilton became the best-paid player in Britain with a new contract at Forest worth £1 200 a week.

As Grobbelaar settled in England, earning about £200 a week, he never imagined that — exactly 40 years down the line — another footballer from his homeland, Marvelous Nakamba, would arrive in that country’s top-flight league at a starting salary of about £65 000 per week.

It’s likely to be improved if he continues with his flying start to life in the Premiership.

And Highlanders have been watching.

“Congratulations to our juniors’ product, and now national team player Marvelous Nakamba for joining the elite league of Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mwaruwari as the only Zimbabwean players to ever play in England’s elite league,’’ Bosso tweeted when the Nakamba deal was announced.

But, why is it that all the four Zimbabwean footballers who have featured in the English top-flight league — Grobbelaar, King Peter, Benjani Mwaruwari and Nakamba — all have the same Highlanders connections?

Why is it that, at some point in their careers, either in the senior team as was the case with Grobbelaar and King Peter, or in the junior teams, as was the case with Benjani and Nakamba, all of them featured for Bosso at some point?

Is it a case that Highlanders have the best set-up, in terms of preparing players who can go as far as playing in the English top-flight league, because, if it was just one or two players, one could have said it’s just a coincidence?

But, definitely, three and four players shows this isn’t just happening by chance.

It’s a subject that domestic football has seemingly not been keen to discuss, but one that deserves to be talked about at length.

To help us try and understand why only those who have had a connection with Bosso end up scaling the heights like playing in the English Premiership?

Is it the way that those who go through the junior ranks at Highlanders are trained, which is different from what happens at other clubs in the country, which then enable the excellent ones like King Peter, Benjani and Nakamba to be different from others and enable them to be signed by English Premiership clubs?

SO MANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE TO FACE, VERY FEW ANSWERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED
Would Benjani have gone all the way to Manchester City, for instance, if he had featured for the Dynamos junior teams, and not the Bosso junior sides?

And, if the answer is yes, why then did someone like Tauya Murewa, as precocious a talent as any that has emerged on the domestic scene, not make in Scotland where he had trials at Hibernian?

Is it fair to suggest The Flying Doctor, who scored 60 times in four seasons for DeMbare while not playing as an out-and-out forward, would have made it into the English Premiership, for instance, if at some stage in his career — especially during his youthful days — he had come through the Bosso ranks?

What about the Digital, Vitalis Takawira, whose dribbling skills made him such a terrier to defenders, can we also argue that, if he had gone through the Bosso juniors, there was a very good chance he would have made it into the English Premiership?

His brother, Claudius, remains one of the most underrated players I have seen, awesome in the air, strong and with the kind of physique they want in most top leagues, but his destiny took him nowhere, even when it’s clear his skills deserved a bigger and better platform.

Would Claudius, in his retirement today, probably look back and say that, if fate had taken him through the Bosso junior ranks, at some point in his career, chances are that he would have ended up playing football even in the English Premiership?

What about Agent Sawu, probably the deadliest gunslinger of his Dream Team generation and had just about everything one needed in a striker — power, aerial strength, great timing and amazing positioning?

The former Zimbabwe Saints man ended up in Switzerland while the late Adam Ndlovu, who was developed in the Bosso system, found himself being invited by Sir Alex Ferguson for trials at Old Trafford in ‘92 before the Scot chose Eric Cantona.

What about Henry “The Bully” McKop, one of the finest all-round local footballers I have seen, what about Ronald Sibanda, a magician with a vision seemingly guided by some laser instruments, what about Joseph Machingura?

All these Saints boys, amazing footballers who were born to play football and did it with both style and substance, could their paths have taken a different turn, and seen them playing in England, if they had stuck to the Bosso system, whatever it is?

What about Norman Mapeza, who almost joined West Ham, Onismor Bhasera, who almost joined Portsmouth and Queens Park rangers, would they possibly have made it had they gone through the Bosso football school?

Some will say we shouldn’t forget the impact Methembe Ndlovu and his Bantu project had on the likes of Nakamba, fair and fine, and quite a good point.

But, then, how do you divorce Methembe from Bosso, how is he not just a youthful extension of the beautiful old beast, how can we say the lessons he picked under Ali “Baba’’ Dube aren’t what he is now using at Bantu?

Today, Teenage Hadebe is making waves in Turkey and, of course, along the way he had his talents developed at Bosso and Bantu, I’m not sure what they do there, to become someone who could make the grade in Europe.

It’s now 15 years since King Peter ended his romance with English football, with the curtain fittingly coming down at the historic Bramall Lane and all its history, closing a chapter in which he featured 135 times for Sheffield United and scored 25 goals.

And, the only two other players to follow in his footsteps — Benjani and Nakamba — are from his old Bosso production line, no one can explain why, but maybe it’s because they say this old beast is different.

After all, they say, while all other local football clubs were “formed,’’ Bosso are the only ones who were “established.’’

Whatever that means, I don’t know, but what I know is that there is something romantic about Barbourfields, just like Bramall Lane.

And, it’s not just because they share the same initial, “B,’’ which also happens to be the initial of the nicknames of the clubs, “Bosso for Highlanders and Blades for Sheffield United,’’ which call these two stadiums home.

It’s something special.
To God Be The Glory!
Peace to the GEPA Chief, the Big Fish, George Norton and all the Chakariboys in the struggle.
Come on United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole Ole!
Text Feedback — 0772545199
WhatsApp — 0772545199
Email — robsharuko@gmail.com, robson.sharuko@zimpapers.co.zw

You can also interact with me on Twitter — @Chakariboy, Facebook, Instagram — sharukor and every Wednesday night, at 9.45pm, when I join the legendary Charles “CNN’’ Mabika and producer Craig “Master Craig’’ Katsande on the ZBC television magazine programme, “Game Plan”.

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Villa Boss Heaps Praise On Nakamba Ahead of Man City Clash

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has heaped praise on Zimbabwean midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba following his impressive start to life in the English Premier League.

Nakamba, who joined the premiership side from Belgian outfit, Club Brugge, has been an ever-present for Villa since breaking into Smith’s eleven, playing in every game since the goalless draw against West Ham at home.

Smith, who watched Nakamba put up another fine display during his team’s last gasp 2-1 home win over Brighton and Hove last weekend, said he has been impressed by how the Zimbabwean star conducted himself on and off the pitch since his move.

“He’s a wonderful person. He’s got such an enthusiasm that, when you meet him, straight away you’re endeared to him,” Smith said.

“He wanted to come and play in the Premier League and believes he’s good enough and we believed that. He’s the sort of player that we felt could improve us as a team. The dressing room has helped him settle in, he’s got Bjorn Engels and Wesley who he’s played with at Brugge.”

Nakamba is expected to yet again play an important role when Villa play English premiership champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.

Villa are currently in 12th position on the log with 11 points from nine matches while City are second on 19 points from as many matches, six behind leaders Liverpool.

Nakamba was on Wednesday called up to the Zimbabwe Warriors squad for next month’s African Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers.

Zimbabwe host Botswana in the opening Group H match of the qualification campaign scheduled for Barbourfields Stadium on November 15 before travelling to Zambia for a date against the hosts four days later.

The 25-year-old withdrew from the Warriors’ previous squad for the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers back in September, instead wanting to settle into his new surroundings at Villa Park.

Zimbabwe have already qualified for the 2020 African Nations Championship and will compete alongside 15 other countries between January and February in Cameroon.

However, nations in this lesser competition can only select players from their respective countries – meaning the likes of Nakamba will not take part, allowing the midfielder to stay with Villa throughout January.

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Villa Boss Heaps Praise On Nakamba Ahead of Man City Clash

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has heaped praise on Zimbabwean midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba following his impressive start to life in the English Premier League.

Nakamba, who joined the premiership side from Belgian outfit, Club Brugge, has been an ever-present for Villa since breaking into Smith’s eleven, playing in every game since the goalless draw against West Ham at home.

Smith, who watched Nakamba put up another fine display during his team’s last gasp 2-1 home win over Brighton and Hove last weekend, said he has been impressed by how the Zimbabwean star conducted himself on and off the pitch since his move.

“He’s a wonderful person. He’s got such an enthusiasm that, when you meet him, straight away you’re endeared to him,” Smith said.

“He wanted to come and play in the Premier League and believes he’s good enough and we believed that. He’s the sort of player that we felt could improve us as a team. The dressing room has helped him settle in, he’s got Bjorn Engels and Wesley who he’s played with at Brugge.”

Nakamba is expected to yet again play an important role when Villa play English premiership champions Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.

Villa are currently in 12th position on the log with 11 points from nine matches while City are second on 19 points from as many matches, six behind leaders Liverpool.

Nakamba was on Wednesday called up to the Zimbabwe Warriors squad for next month’s African Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers.

Zimbabwe host Botswana in the opening Group H match of the qualification campaign scheduled for Barbourfields Stadium on November 15 before travelling to Zambia for a date against the hosts four days later.

The 25-year-old withdrew from the Warriors’ previous squad for the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers back in September, instead wanting to settle into his new surroundings at Villa Park.

Zimbabwe have already qualified for the 2020 African Nations Championship and will compete alongside 15 other countries between January and February in Cameroon.

However, nations in this lesser competition can only select players from their respective countries – meaning the likes of Nakamba will not take part, allowing the midfielder to stay with Villa throughout January.

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FC Platinum, Bosso clash in Chibuku Super Cup

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BY FORTUNE MBELE

HIGHLANDERS coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh is wary of the threat posed by FC Platinum ahead of the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final match at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.

“I have respect for FC Platinum; they are organised. The club has big ambitions shown in the last two years where they had great international success. The club is professional and has quality players. The way they handle a lot of things is very professional, but I believe in my players and my selection,” De Jongh said.

He added: “I have been in charge of six matches – four wins and two draws. They were not easy games. I hope a lot of fans will come and also hope for a good result, but it is going to be a tough game. I know the opponents are also scared and have respect for us because of the results we have posted in the last six games,” De Jongh said.

Prince Dube, who was red-carded in a 1-all draw against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium on Wednesday, is expected to lead the team against FC Platinum as he looks to continue his recent good form.

FC Platinum coach Lizwe Sweswe is aware of the threat that in-form Highlanders pose, but said they will stand their ground in front of the multitudes of their fans.

“It will always be difficult to play against the country’s two biggest clubs in a space of four days, but this one is a cup game and there must be a winner at the end of the day. Highlanders have been in good form so it will be a difficult game, but we are FC Platinum, we will throw everything at them to come out with a win,” Sweswe said.

FC Platinum played a goalless draw with Dynamos in a league match at Rufaro on Wednesday.

Sweswe reckons that they are under pressure to retain the league title, prepare for the Caf Champions League group stages and the Chibuku Super Cup, but said they had to brace for everything at hand.

“Football is always a pressure game; the pressure has to be managed. There is the league title; we are playing in the Chibuku Super Cup and preparing for the Champions League, but we will try and give it our best against Highlanders in front of their crowd. We will push to our best,” Sweswe said.

Chibuku Super Cup fixtures

Today: Ngezi Platinum Stars v Black Rhinos (Baobab)

https://www.newsday.co.zw/2019/10/fc-platinum-bosso-clash-in-chibuku-super-cup/ Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Highlanders (Babourfields), ZPC Kariba v Manica Diamonds (Vengere)

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PERFECT PRESENT FOR MACAULEY

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Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
RED-HOT forward Macauley Bonne, who faces a defining week in his quest to represent Zimbabwe in international football, got a perfect 24th birthday present on Sunday with a fifth goal, in six games, to help Charlton Athletic hold West Bromwich 2-2 at the Hawthorns on Saturday. Bonne turned 24 on Saturday and, for the fifth game in half-a-dozen matches, he was on target for Charlton Athletic.

‘’Wow, thanks for all the birthday messages, reading every one,’’ the striker said on Twitter. ‘’Most of all, buzzing to get another goal and amazed at the support this great club has — it lifts us all!

‘’Enjoy your weekend and thanks again!’’

Bonne, whom the English media believe could be the next Jamie Vardy, has been unstoppable in the past six games after initially appearing to struggle, at the beginning of the season, to adjust to the challenges of the English Championship.

The free-scoring forward, who has one cap and one goal for the Warriors, was plucked from non-league football after making a huge impression with his goal-scoring prowess.

However, after a couple of matches at the start of the season, in which he seemed to struggle, some of the analysts were beginning to question the wisdom to invest in his services.

They argued there was a huge difference between non-league football and the Championship and Bonne was being exposed by the quality of the defenders he was now coming up against.

However, after a number of regular forwards were lost to injuries, Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer was forced to turn to Bonne and, since then, he has been irresistible.

‘’HE IS RED HOT AT THE MOMENT!” There’s no stopping @MBonne9,’’ Charlton Athletic tweeted after the game against West Bromwich Albion.

This is a crucial week for Bonne with Warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare, telling The Herald the events in the next few days will decide whether the striker finally gets his Zimbabwean passport he needs to play for the Warriors.

‘’We have received support from the Minister of Sport (Kirsty Coventry) and we have taken the documents where they are supposed to be and we are confident that something will happen in the coming days,’’ Mpandare said.

‘’The quality that Bonne is showing at the moment shows why we have been saying that we badly need him in our team.

‘’He is a top notch striker and he can make a huge difference to our side and the good thing is that he wants to play for his country and has been ready for months now.

‘’It’s one thing saying this player is good, and he doesn’t want to play for us, but it’s another thing when the player is coming out to say that he wants to represent Zimbabwe and here we are talking of a top, top player.

‘’The Championship is a tough league, it’s just one rung lower than the English Premiership and for one to score as many goals, at a new club, shows he is really good.’’

Charlton needed a dramatic late goal to steal a point against a West Bromwich side that appears good enough to make it into the Premiership at the end of the campaign.

“I’ve said to the players “we should be higher in the league” because we’re a good side,’’ Bowyer told the media after the match.

‘’Now they have to start believing because we’ve got a good chance of staying in the league and maybe doing something a bit different.”

“We have to get to the points we need to keep us in the division. Once we get to that we’ll re-evaluate where we are but I’m happy with the points we’ve got at the moment.

‘’Once we start getting some more players back I think we’ve got a chance of going on a bit of a run. The games we have just played have been crazy and we’ve been in every game.

“The fans were unbelievable again today. To travel all this way, I’d have felt for them if they’d seen us leave with nothing because they didn’t stop all game.”

Twice the hosts took the lead but twice the visitors fought back to snatch a point. Matt Phillips thrust the hosts into the lead in the first half on a wet surface at the Hawthorns.

But Bonne, who has been a revelation in the last six games, levelled on the hour mark.

The move started down the right channel and a cross to the back post, a header and a fine block from goalkeeper Kyle Bartle saw the ball pop up to Bonne just inside the box to head home.

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Chisora cuts down David Price

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LONDON. — Zimbabwe-born British boxer Derek Chisora battered his way back to the fringe of world heavyweight title contention with a relentless brutalising of Davd Price on Saturday night.

“War” now his nickname instead of Del Boy, Chisora came out with all guns blazing.

The salvo lasted for three rounds and two minutes, long enough to sink Price to his unfulfilled career knees.

Albeit not the single massive blow which has been his undergoing at key moments earlier in his career.

The heavyweight clash lived up to the hype after Joseph Parker was forced to pull out with illness, as both men fired at will from the first bell.

A ducking and weaving Chisora found it easy to get close to Price and repeatedly hurt the Liverpudlian with hooks. Price was moments from hitting the canvas at the end of the third when he fired back at Chisora, momentarily rocking his rival as the bell rang.

Chisora resumed his position as the hunter in the fourth and under heavy fire, Price’s knees eventually buckled against the ropes. Price got to his feet, but with the 36-year-old supporting his weight on the ropes, his corner decided to throw in the towel.

Chisora praised Price after the fight for stepping up at late notice and said he wanted to reschedule his showdown with Joseph Parker. “(Price) buzzed me, caught me with a beautiful uppercut,” Chisora said in the ring. “If we can get Joseph Parker ASAP, I hope this time he doesn’t get a spider bite.”

While Chisora feels he should step in with former WBO champion Parker, his manager David Haye has other ideas for his fighter. Haye suggested a clash with heavyweight newcomer Oleksandr Usyk was Chisora’s best option at getting another world title shot.

“I like the Oleksandr Usyk, fight, he’s mandatory for the WBO, that could be a fantastic fight,” he said. “If he fights Oleksandr Usyk, he’s right up there for a heavyweight title shot. A title shot is what he wants.”

Price had weathered a serious of massive right hands from the start and it took a double whammy to put him down in the fourth, an uppercut and a hook.

Still he was able to drag that huge frame upright but referee Howard Foster was alarmed. Even as he asked Price if he was alright to continue — and doubting the nodding response — Price’s cornermen threw in the towel.

The end of the road, perhaps, for Price but a corner turned for Chisora.

His manager and former heavyweight champion David Haye said: “There is a now good chance of Derek getting a world title shot next year as one of two of the belts fall vacant.”’

Chisora made his entrance as usual with his face concealed by a red, white and blue Union flag under a white hood to match his embossed robe.

Price, of course, was in red.

Chisora, befitting his new pseudonym, went on the attack from the start, clearly winning the first even though he charged into three or four meaty punches from Price late in the round.

Chisora was warned twice for low blows, one so low it might have performed a cartilage operation on Price’s knee.

No doubt to the surprise of Chisora and most of the audience, Price absorbed a succession of huge rights in the third, any one of which might have put him down and perhaps out in the past.

More of the same in the fourth proved too much, too heavy, too redolent of serious harm.

Price finally went down from a pair of rights — uppercut and hook. Gamely he rose to his fight and referee Foster was debating whether to call a halt when the white towel came fluttering across the ring. — Mailonline.

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Tiger extends lead

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INZAI. — Tiger Woods closed in on a record-equalling 82nd PGA Tour victory yesterday with a third-round 66 to move to 16-under par at the weather-delayed Zozo Championship while Rory McIlroy leapt into the top 10 after a 63.

The Masters golf champion extended his two-shot overnight lead to a three-stroke cushion over home favourite Hideki Matsuyama who had a five-under 65 to be 13-under.

A shot further back was US Open champion Gary Woodland who carded a 68 before the leaders dashed into the clubhouse for a rapid lunch.

They were due to head straight back out to tee off their final round at 14:00 which will finish this morning because of the 16:50 sunset.

McIlroy had a horrible two-over 72 on Thursday but followed up his Saturday 65 with a superb 63, equalling the low round of the week, containing six birdies and an eagle at the 18th.

At 10-under par the FedEx Cup champion went into the afternoon’s fourth round in solo seventh place, six shots adrift of the leader.

Woods will tie Sam Snead’s all-time record of 82 PGA Tour victories with a win at in the inaugural US$9.75 million event Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

He started sloppily with a three-putt at the first, but quickly regained momentum with a pinpoint eight-iron to six feet at the short third.

With the sell-out crowds allowed back in after almost 10 inches of rain fell on the course during Friday’s suspension of play, Japan’s number one Matsuyama was giving them plenty to cheer.

Matsuyama started four behind Woods but a birdie on the last in a second 65 of the week took him into second on his own, three behind the leader.

Woods, whose 64 on Thursday was his lowest season-opening round of his long career, was holding a 36-hole lead on his own for the first time since the 2013 WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.

The 15-time major champion had won on 38 of the 49 previous occasions he held the lead going into the third round and showed no signs of wanting to relinquish it.

When Woods knocked his sixth birdie of the round at the 13th he was five clear but he dropped a second shot at the par-five 14th when he failed to get up and down.

In-form Woodland, who tied third in at the CJ Cup in South Korea last week, stayed in touch with an up and down two-under round of 68 with four birdies and two bogeys.

Tied fourth on 11-under par entering the final round were the American duo Xander Schauffele (65), Billy Horschel (64) and Canada’s Corey Conners (66), with world number two McIlroy lurking a further stroke behind.— AFP.

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DeMbare seek strong finish

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

HARARE giants Dynamos, who have not won a league match in two months, believe they could have got the kind of stimulus they desperately needed ahead of the clash against Manica Diamonds on Wednesday.

The Glamour Boys have drawn more than half the games they have played after 27 rounds this season.

DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya told The Herald their 1-0 victory over a youthful Highlanders in the Anti-Sanctions Challenge match at the National Sports Stadium on Friday was good for their confidence.

“It gave us confidence, most importantly, going into our next match. I think the immediate match is the one which is more important.

“We are playing Manica Diamonds next Wednesday and I think this victory will give us confidence.

“I am hoping that we can be spurred on by this victory going into the last round of matches,” said Ndiraya.

Ironically, the team is unbeaten in the last 15 league games.

But, of those games, Dynamos have only managed to get four wins while 11 games have ended in draws.

The run has unsettled most of the DeMbare faithful who feel the club could have been in a challenging position had they managed to convert some of the draws into victories.

Dynamos are currently seventh on the log standings with 38 points in the bag.

They are 12 points away from log leaders CAPS United who lead the race on 50 points.

They face a difficult road in the homestretch which include the big match against Highlanders coming up next weekend, Chapungu, Black Rhinos, CAPS United, Harare City and Triangle.

DeMbare last won a league match on August 28 when they edged Herentals 3-2 at Rufaro.

Ndiraya believes the prolonged dry spell had badly affected his team’s confidence.

“Of course, it had to be broken on this occasion and that makes it sweeter. From a technical point we had to give some of our fringe players a run and to mix with the seniors, of course, with the next match in mind.

“I am quite happy with the performance although I would have wanted more.

“What was important was the win so that we bring back the confidence not just to the players but the team as a whole,” said Ndiraya.

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Bosso power into Chibuku semis

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Bulawayo Bureau

FC Platinum ………… 0

Highlanders ………(2) 3

HIGHLANDERS are now barely recognisable as the team that once flirted against relegation in the first half of the season.

And, their new Dutch coach Henrick Pieter de Jongh, has been waving some magic.

Yesterday the resurgent Bulawayo giants turned on a breathtaking show to blow away the league champions in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final contest at Barbourfields.

Bosso fans were taken down memory lane to a time when visiting teams found it hard to come out of Barbourfields with something positive.

And what better way, to relive those good old days, than thrashing FC Platinum, who have dominated domestic football for two seasons in a row, and are still in contention for a hat-trick of league titles.

An opening goal from Prince Dube and two well-taken goals by Denzel Khumalo in the 27th minute and Tinashe Makanda’s 88th minute strike powered Bosso to victory.

Khumalo, who had seemingly lost his way under Madinda Ndlovu and Mandla Mpofu, looks a completely different player altogether under de Jongh.

The diminutive Khumalo, who was used as a striker yesterday, controlled the ball off a rebound with his right foot, lifted his head, spotted FC Platinum goalkeeper Wallace Magalane out of position.

He then unleashed a left-footed curler into the top corner of the net, sending Highlanders’ fans into ecstasy.

Dube, scorer of the solitary goal that ditched Dynamos out of the tournament in the first round, had shot Bosso into the lead after converting a ninth minute penalty.

FC Platinum defender, Lawrence Mhlanga, had handled the ball inside the box in an effort to clear right-back McClive Phiri’s hard-and-low cross from the right-side and referee Arnold Ncube pointed to the spot despite protests by the platinum miners.

Dube stepped up and sent Magalane the wrong way.

Bosso controlled the entire first half and could have scored more goals had they not been wasteful in front of goal.

FC Platinum returned from the half-time break a transformed side but they just couldn’t unlock the Bosso rearguard.

Makanda snuffed out any slim hopes the Zvishavane side had of coming back from the behind with a tap-in in the 87th minute.

Dube initiated a counter-attack from the left side by riding several tackles before releasing the ball to Brian Banda, who sold the FC Platinum defence a dummy and immaculately laid the ball onto Makanda’s path for a simple slot past the advancing goalkeeper.

Makanda’s strike compensated for a dull second half, which had little goalmouth action.

The comfortable victory against the platinum miners brought joy to Highlanders’ fans, who burst into song and dance and took their party into the city centre.

“I’m happy with the win. We had an excellent first half where we got two goals from the penalty spot and that very beautiful goal by Denzel,’’ said De Jongh.

“The second half was a little bit difficult because the opponents played risky football, as they tried to come back into the game, but we were tactically good.”

FC Platinum coach, Lizwe Sweswe, said it was a disappointing result for his men.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed that we lost, but we controlled the game well, especially in the second half,’’ he said.

“The early goal we conceded took us off the rails, but as the game went on, we managed to come back after making some tactical changes.

“We came here wanting to get to the final of the tournament but, well, now we have to concentrate on the league and the CAF Champions League.

“Congratulations to Highlanders.”

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Why Zim must harness benefits of biotechnology

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Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
The mere mention of genetically modified foods (GMOs) has stirred emotions and popular consternation around the issue of altered foods, with concerns over health and its effects on the environment. So much has been said about GMOs, with various people on opposing sides making various claims substantiated and unsubstantiated.

The result has been fear, confusion and meaningless propaganda.

Fear of new technology has generated mixed feelings marked by initial scepticism followed with embrace and adoption after noting the benefits.

Despite a blanket ban on GMOs in Zimbabwe, scientists have been doing research on GMO crops for years benefiting other countries which they have been sharing their findings with.

Darlington Mutetwa, a Quton plant breeder, has spearheaded efforts to promote the growing genetically modified cotton in Nigeria, Malawi and other African countries.

Renowned University of Zimbabwe biochemist Prof Idah Sithole-Niang has also been at the forefront of promoting the growing of GM crops from maize, cowpeas, Bt cotton and others globally without much recognition back home.

The same goes for a number of top Zimbabwean academics who are working in various top global companies using biotechnology to promote the development of various agricultural and medical products.

All this has been going on without Zimbabwe benefiting from its talent and the emerging technology, simply because the country is not willing to adopt the new technologies.

Zimbabwe, for long has been a hostile place for researchers testing genetically modified crops.

Through a combination of regulations, bureaucracy, mistrust and fear, the Government has barred the commercial planting of a transgenic crops.

Anti-GM activists have also added to the woes, but under the new dispensation, things are changing.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has been bold and aggressive in terms of re-orienting the education system under five terms of reference which includes teaching, research, community engagement, innovation and industrialisation.

He has come out strongly and supported science and technology development to promote the new products, platforms and solutions that embed best practice to support the country’s industrial and technological development.

The space is opening up for scientists who are keen on GM crop development.

And, recently, the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe organised the biosafety sensitisation and consultative workshop to demystify biotechnology and GMOs for parliamentarians and other stakeholders.

The hosting of the event was supported by the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Biosafety Network of Expertise (AUDA-NEPAD/ABNE), an African Union (AU) organisation responsible for supporting the building of functional biosafety regulatory systems in African Union member states.

All this demonstrates the opening up of space for scientists and the international research community to play their part in creating an enabling environment for Zimbabwe to adopt new technologies that can enhance agricultural productivity.

Years of unnecessary anti-GMO debate in Zimbabwe has missed the mark.

We should not just single out GMOs for criticism, but also look at the impact of the vast amount of chemicals — nitrogen fertilisers and synthetic pesticides used in our conventional agricultural system.

These also have serious implications on health and the environment. Our scientists are quite clear about GM technology — that it is not a “silver bullet” solution, but one crop strategy we can employ to enhance our crop yields and reduce our costs.

Our own biochemists, Prof Christopher Chetsanga and Prof Sithole-Niang, have spoken out eloquently on the subject and outlining the potential benefits of GM crops.

They have said that Zimbabwe should go step by step and start with GM cotton as plunging into GM food crops totally may be too risky and controversial.

They are saying Zimbabwe should at least move to do trials for Bt cotton to boost cotton production.

Government wants to prioritise digitisation and technology and innovation in order to achieve meaningful development in the country and the region.

To meet the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Zimbabwe and the SADC region, our country has pledged to promote emerging technologies in a number of fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, big data, biotechnology, fifth generation wireless technology and 3D printing.

Prof Sithole-Niang says if the growing of genetically modified cotton is allowed in Zimbabwe it could be a boon for the State.

She says if we adopt GM cotton we can save up to US$90 million a year in terms of reduced production cost.

The country, she argues, could also get $40 million in incremental revenue every year through improved crop yields and reduced cost of production.

Zimbabwe was the first country in Africa to conduct confined field trials for GM cotton and maize around 2000 before the country put a blanket ban on GM crop trials and food by 2005.

And as a result, biotechnology experts say the country has lost out on the potential benefits of new agricultural technologies that can significantly boost yields, incomes and improve livelihoods.

Zimbabwe has not adopted GMO crop technologies, but established the National Biotechnology Authority in 2006 to regulate research, transport, import, manufacture, safe handling and use of organisms and products of modern biotechnology.

In its Second Science, Technology and Innovation Policy released in March 2012, the country identified biotechnology as one of the most promising tools that can help increase food productivity, enhance the health and wellness of society and boost manufacturing output.

While Zimbabwe is delaying the adoption of GM crops, other countries such as South Africa have been growing GM maize, soyabean and cotton for nearly two decades with latest statistics indicating plant hectarage of some 2,7 million hectares.

There has been a massive spread of GMO products in Zimbabwe and across the entire SADC region which include maize, cotton and soyabean, livestock feed, tobacco, bananas, potatoes, poultry products and vegetables.

South Africa has embraced GMOs and as the region’s strongest economy it has been impossible to stop the penetration of GMO foods.

Worse still, with drought ravaging Zimbabwe and most other SADC countries, food aid has come from the US and China, which are now among the biggest producers of GM maize.

No matter what we do, Zimbabwe cannot stop the emergence and movement of new technologies. We only have to adopt the new technologies and take the necessary biosafety measures to minimise the potential risks.

We are legging behind.

In 2018, Sudan cultivated 243 000 ha of Bt cotton, eSwatini 250ha, while in 2019 Ethiopia planted Bt cotton on more than 500 000ha, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) 2018 report.

Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya have given cultivation approvals for Bt cotton. More than 70 percent of cotton traded global is GM cotton.

India and China are among some of the biggest producers of Bt cotton where Zimbabwe imports some of its clothing materials from.

As a country we are consuming GMO products and it only makes sense to get on the train and start growing GM cotton for a start.

We have the technical expertise and what we need are resources and the political will.

Debate on GMOs is quite controversial and anyone who touches GMOs gets burned. People are so worked up on both sides that no matter what you say, someone will criticise you. We should raise concerns using facts. We should utilise scientists to drive our own biotechnology agenda.

We should not lose ourselves to fear and confusion.

Biotechnology is big business and as a country we should harness it for our benefit. Cuba, South Africa, China, US, Sudan, Egypt and many other countries are using biotechnology for their benefit.

Zimbabwe should allow our scientists to conduct confined field trials for genetically modified crops as part of efforts to find innovative solutions to some of the pressing problems facing the country’s agricultural sector.

We have the capacity to do it. Our universities are training biotechnology students who are being taken outside and benefiting other countries.

Why should we waste our resources and fail to tap on the benefits of this technology when we have the capacity to harness it?

The post Why Zim must harness benefits of biotechnology appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Global pet trade in amphibians bigger than we thought

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Nitya Mohanty Correspondent
Humans keep all sorts of animals as pets and new species are constantly being brought into the trade — some reared in captivity, but many sourced from the wild.

As a result, the global pet trade often puts wild populations at risk of over-exploitation. The Global Amphibian Assessment pegs 47 amphibian species to be predominantly threatened by unsustainable harvesting for the international pet trade.

And the risks don’t end there. For various reasons, people release pets into the wild, resulting in biological invasions. People might do this because keeping the animal isn’t the experience they expected, or because they can’t afford it any longer.

The problem is that, often, it may introduce a species to regions beyond their natural range. These invasive populations can harm native species and lead to the spread of diseases to new areas. For example, the pet trade is linked to the spread of an infectious fungal disease of salamanders in Europe, leading to large scale salamander mortality.

These threats are especially true for amphibians (frogs, newts and caecilians).

Amphibians are undergoing severe population declines all over the world due to habitat destruction, climate change, disease spread, and invasive species. Losing amphibians, pest-controllers par excellence, not only imperils agricultural security but can lead to imbalances in ecosystem processes.

Internet-based commerce is making it easier for the pet trade to include growing numbers and new species of amphibians. The trade is now the major pathway through which invasions of amphibians take place.

At least 104 amphibian species are invasive around the world, and more species are likely to be introduced in the future.

It is crucial to understand which species may be affected by the trade and which species may spur invasive populations following release.

In our new study, we aimed to assess the amphibian pet trade. We identified which species are being traded and why, and predicted which species are likely to be targeted in future. We uncovered nearly 450 species of amphibians in the pet trade, moved around the world in large numbers.

The US alone imported 3,6 million pet amphibians in the past five years. The magnitude of this trade indicates that more species are likely to be released and become invasive in non-native regions and facilitate disease spread.

Amphibian enthusiasts must carefully evaluate whether the species meets their expectations, and understand the cost of ownership, before purchasing.

Which species are traded?
We searched the scientific literature and import databases for traded amphibians around the globe. Then we looked at how traded and non-traded species differ from each other. To do this, we used a set of amphibian traits from the database AmphiBIO, which contains information on traits such as body size and reproductive capacity.

We also looked at whether the species were endangered or not, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. We examined whether these traits could explain the size of the trade in each species.

Our effort resulted in a long list of 443 traded species. We found a strong bias for certain types of amphibians; six amphibian families contributed disproportionately high numbers of traded species.

The colourful poison dart frog family is, unsurprisingly, a star attraction in the trade. More surprising as popular pets are the families of tongue-less frogs and reed frogs.

Next, we found that the traded species tend to be bigger. It is likely that extremely small body sizes are avoided because it’s harder for the owner to see or handle the pet often. Traded species also had larger range sizes, probably due to the ease of collecting them from the wild.

A final characteristic of traded species was a “larval” breeding type (indirect development), which produces offspring that are cheaper to raise than direct developing species.

These results help explain which species end up in the trade. It’s not just about what pet enthusiasts prefer; it’s also about how easy a species is to collect and to rear in captivity.

Body size, range size and breeding type explained, for the most part, why species are traded. We then used these traits to predict a list of species that could be future pets. Interestingly, species-traits could not explain the size of trade.

Blind spots
Although our investigation provides a good view of the trade, it has some blind spots. Trade in Asia remains understudied and is probably not well reflected in our compiled pet list.

We also couldn’t incorporate all the potential factors that may predict popular pets, such as colour and calls, because these traits haven’t been scored for the majority of around 7 000 amphibians we are dealing with in the analysis.

But more work is being done by our research lab to understand which traits attract owners of amphibians, which species are likely to be released, and how responsible pet ownership can be promoted.

Pet ownership comes with responsibilities, not just for the well-being of the pets, but for the unwanted effects their trade could have. We hope the information we have gathered will make pet owners and traders more aware of these aspects. With great pets come great responsibilities. — Conversation Africa

Nitya Mohanty, Post-doctoral fellow Centre for Invasion Biology (CIB) Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University

The post Global pet trade in amphibians bigger than we thought appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

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