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NewsDay

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Sadiki impresses at TP Mazembe

Sport
FORMER FC Platinum and Warriors striker Ali Sadiki is making quite an impression at DRC football giants TP Mazembe, receiving special praise from the coach

FORMER FC Platinum and Warriors striker Ali Sadiki is making quite an impression at DRC football giants TP Mazembe, receiving special praise from the coach Patrice Carteron after last week’s friendly against that country’s national team.

ZIMBABWEANS ABROAD WITH WELLINGTON TONI

The friendly was meant to prepare the senior national team for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cameroon, which, unfortunately, they lost 2-0 on Saturday.

But, according to TP’s official website, Carteron is happy with Sadiki, whom he signed after a month-long trial that started with a tour of Zambia.

“Ali Sadiki, it was though supporters see him: he has a quality left foot and quite formidable crossings. Overally, I liked the mindset of the whole team.

The best thing for the TPM is that the fans should also see the work that is being done on the ground, there is no starting line-up each week, but there are 30 players who work very hard,” the coach told the website after the friendly which they lost 2-1.

Sadiki moved to FC Platinum from Gunners and has continuously improved on his game until his big break in the Linafoot — the DRC top-flight league.

He is FC Platinum’s second sale since the club won promotion into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after Joel Mogorosi, who was signed from Mochudi Centre Chiefs, but never kicked a ball at Mandava before he was shipped off to Bloemfontein Celtic in South Africa, where he is now the captain.

Sadiki was part of the Warriors’ squad that reached the final of the Cosafa Cup in Zambia last year and the semi-finals of the African Nations Championships in South Africa early this year.

The 26-year-old signed a five-year deal with TP on May 31.

Lincoln Zvasiya’s roller-coaster international career, that has taken him to Greece, came full circle on Friday when he was finally released from his contract by South African giants Kaizer Chiefs.

He had one year left on his deal and had been training with National First Division sides Royal Eagles and Cape Town All Stars in a bid to secure a club before the transfer window closed last week.

He failed and Chiefs agreed to release him. He is now a free agent and is able to make a move anytime. He spent six months at OFI Crete in Greece and once returned home to train with Harare City before he decided to return to South Africa.

At Chiefs, the club had exhausted their foreign quota and could not take him aboard.

Most of Zimbabwe’s players were on a break due to international games across the world that took place from last Friday and will end tomorrow.

Last Friday, the South Africa Premier Soccer League finally decided to name the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as the host venue for the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

Pirates have no Zimbabwean players on their books, but Chiefs will have Willard Katsande, Ovidy Karuru and Matthew Rusike for the biggest final down south on September 20.

Zimbabwean goalkeeper Tando Velaphi will again be playing for Melbourne City Football Club in the Australian top-flight.

Velaphi’s club was bought by English Premiership champions Manchester City and were previously known as Melbourne Heart.

Velaphi (27) was a second half substitute last week when they beat FC Bendingo 4-0 in a pre-season match and will kick start their new season next month with a match against Sydney.