ZIMBABWE international defender Costa Nhamoinesu scored his second goal for Czech Republic top dogs Sparta Prague as they defeated third-placed FK Teplice in the Czech Gambrinus Liga on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten start.
Wellington Toni
The former AmaZulu man has started in all the 13 games in the new league. He was denied by Teplice goalkeeper Slavik from the edge of the box in the 71st minute.
But the tall defender made no mistake 10 minutes later when he rifled home a Kaderabek cross to seal a 2-0 win.
With the victory, Sparta are seven points clear at the top with 11 wins from 13 matches, two draws and no loss. Victoria Plzen, who play Bayern Munich in the Champions League tonight, occupy second spot.
With such sparkling performances, Nhamoinesu could be in for a call up from new coach Ian Gorowa for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that kick off next March and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Sparta’s intentions are playing in the Uefa Champions League next season and the left back could join the likes of Norman Mapeza and Benjani Mwaruwari as some of the Zimbabwe stars that have played in Europe’s top club competition.
In Belgium, the sooner Ovidy Karuru realises he has no place in the 13th-placed OH Leuven team, the better for his international career. He has not played this season for the Jupiler League side and did not even feature on the bench at the weekend as they went down 3-1 to Anderlecht.
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His talent is undoubted, but he has not been a favourite of the coach after an early season burst up and has even contemplated returning home to play for Castle Premiership side Dynamos.
His handlers though believe he still has a future in Europe and are working on a January move for the former Gunners man.
Still in the same league, Nyasha Mushekwi and Vusa Nyoni are singing the blues. Mushekwi came in in the 52nd minute as KV Oostende, struggling in 14th position, lost 2-0 to Kortrijk, while Nyoni was an unused sub as his bottom-placed side Mons crashed 2-3 at home to Genk.
In the English Championship, Bradley Pritchard was part of the Charlton Athletic team that stunned Birmingham City 1-0 at home to move to 17th place on the log standings. Pritchard was once called for national duty, but did not play as he was travelling on an emergency document and remains ripe for a Warriors call up.
Goalkeeper Tando Velaphi sat out Melbourne Heart’s 3-0 thrashing by Brisbane Roar in the Australian A League.
In South Africa, there were no Zimbabweans in action as Takesure Chinyama failed to make the cut in Platinum Stars’ crushing 3-0 win over SuperSport United.
Striker Terrence Mandaza’s Maritzburg United drew 0-0 with Bloemfontein Celtic and the Zimbabwe international did not play.
Rodreck Mutuma, formerly of Dynamos, did not play for Celtic.
In league action tomorrow, Bidvest Wits, who feature Mwaruwari, Tinashe Nengomasha and Denver Mukamba, face Washington Arubi and Obadiah Tarumbwa’s Pretoria University.
Mamelodi Sundowns will miss Khama Billiat, who is rested after a weekend car crash, but Cuthbert Malajila and veteran Esrom Nyandoro are available for the match against Free State Stars.
