IF Cuthbert Malajila’s brace for Mamelodi Sundowns in the side’s 2-0 win over Dwarfs of Ghana in a friendly match last month was seen by some as a fluke, then the Warriors striker answered his critics well on Sunday.
Zimbabweans Abroad with Henry Mhara
Malajila scored a classy goal as the Brazilians thrashed Rodreck Mutuma’s Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1 in their South Africa Absa Premiership opener on Sunday.
The former Chapungu, Highlanders and Dynamos man, who finished last season as the Absa Premiership third top goalscorer playing for Maritzburg, excellently brought down a pass from teammate Teko Modise using his chest and in one motion he let fly a volley into the top corner.
Mutuma started the match before being hauled off at halftime. But as Malajila was soaking himself in glory in Bloemfontein, his former teammate at Dynamos Denver Mukamba had a nightmarish start to the new season as his club Bidvest Wits were held to a goalless draw by Platinum Stars.
Mukamba, in his first start for the club since his move to South Africa last year where he played just 32 minutes last season, was shown a straight red on 83rd minute after hitting out at Stars defender Lindokuhle Mbatha following a rough challenge.
Tinashe Nengomasha played the whole match, while Benjani Mwaruwari was withdrawn at half-time for Wits.
Stars new man Takesure Chinyama did not make the final squad for the match, so did Thomas Sweswe for the Students.
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Knowledge Musona made a quiet return in Kaizer Chiefs colours on Friday as the champions began their title defence with a 1-0 win over newcomers Mpumalanga Black Aces, which is captained by former Warriors skipper Method Mwanjali.
Musona was substituted on 90 minutes whereas Willard Katsande played the whole match for Chiefs and teammate Mathew Rusike was an unused substitute.
Warriors’ first choice goalie Washington Arubi and Obadiah Tarumbwa were in a losing side as their team Pretoria University went down 1-0 to Moroka Swallows.
Tarumbwa was substituted after 80 minutes, while Gilbert Mapemba did not make the final 18 for the Birds.
Maritzburg also made a good start when collecting maximum points at home to new boys Polokwane City, with Terrance Mandaza playing 84 minutes of the match.
Vusa Nyoni was the only Zimbabwean involved of the three in the Belgian league.
The former AmaZulu and Highlanders player played the full match as his club Mons lost 2-1 to Lokeren in their second league game of the season.
He had lasted 76 minutes in Mons’s league opener which ended in a draw.
His countryman Ovidy Karuru has not appeared for his club OH Leuven’s first two games.
The team lost both games and currently anchor the log table. Nyasha Mushekwi’s debut at Oostende has been delayed as his new Belgian club and his former team Mamelodi Sundowns continue to haggle over his transfer fee.
Archford Gutu is also struggling for game time in Sweden.
The Warriors anchorman has completed just 170 minutes in 17 league matches for Kalmar FF and his last match was on July 6 when he came in as a 69th minute sub in his team’s 1-0 win at Brommapojkarna.
He has been an unused substitute in his team’s last three matches.
