AFRICA’s prestigious’ football club competitions, the Caf Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup, reached the first round stage at the weekend, with a number of foreign-based Zimbabwean players making it through to the next stage.
Zimbabweans Abroad with Henry Mhara
The Kaizer Chiefs trio of Willard Katsande, Mathew Rusike and Ovidy Karuru progressed after a 1-0 win away to Madinda Ndlovu’s Township Rollers in a second-leg preliminary tie on Saturday.
The result, combined with their 2-1 win at home in the first leg, saw the side from South Africa into the next round of the Champions League 3-1 on aggregate over the two legs. They will now meet Raja Club Athletic of Morocco in the second round.
Katsande and Rusike started the match but the later, who scored his side’s first goal in the first leg, was pulled out after 75 minutes.
There was also joy for the Mamelodi Sundowns crew of Cuthbert Malajila, Khama Billiat, Kuda Mahachi, Esrom Nyandoro and the club’s manager Peter Ndlovu after their team also made it through following a comprehensive 3-0 win over St Michel United of Seychelles on Saturday.
This victory saw the Brazilians advancing to the next round of the continental tournament with a 4-1 aggregate win following their 1-1 draw in the first leg. Sundowns will face DRC’s TP Mazembe in the next round.
Edward Sadomba’s Ahly Tripoli of Libya are also through to the next round of the competition after their 1-0 win over Smouha of Egypt.
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In the Absa Premiership, Tendai Ndoro netted his sixth goal of the season for Mpumalanga Black Aces but that could not save his side from losing 2-1 to University of Pretoria who had Washington Arubi, Denver Mukamba and Patson Jaure in the starting line-up.
Warriors leftback Milton Ncube was handed a rare start by Ajax Cape Town and responded to the call by netting his side’s opener as they beat Eric Chipeta’s Chippa United 2-0 on Friday.
Ncube was handed the starting berth, covering for the suspended Mosa Lebusa who had made the left-back position his own.
“I knew my chance would come, but I had to continue working hard and be patient also. Mosa [Lebusa] was doing well, and so was the team,” Ncube said.
It remains to be seen if Ajax coach Roger De Sa will retain faith in the former Highlanders attacking midfielder when the team plays Kaizer Chiefs tomorrow.
Former Warriors goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro was in goal as AmaZulu recorded their second win of the season with a shocking 2-5 victory over George Chigova’s SuperSport United. Chigova was an unused sub in the match and has struggled for game time since his move from Dynamos.
In Europe, Knowledge Musona’s Belgian side KV Oostende were handed a 3-0 hiding at Westerlo on Saturday, with the Warriors man playing 77 minutes before being substituted. It was the team’s 14th league defeat in 28 matches, and their sixth since Musona joined the club in January from the Bundesliga.
They have won and drew once in that period with Musona scoring one goal, in a 3-1 defeat at home to Sporting Charleroi last week.
Costa Nhamoinesu played the entire match as his Czech Republic league side Sparta Praha allowed Baník Ostrava to come from behind and snatch a draw on Saturday. The result left the second placed team on 41 points, three behind log leaders Viktoria Plze after 18 matches.
In Denmark, Silas Songani was an unused substitute for SønderjyskE in their 1-0 win away to Vestsjælland despite his winning strike at home to Quincy Antipas’ Hobro last weekend.
Antipas on the other hand, started for Hobro who also recorded a 1-0 win at home Nordsjælland and the Warriors man lasted for 89 minutes. It is Songani’s side who are better placed on the log standings, at fifth with 26 points, two ahead of Hobro who are eighth after 19 rounds of matches.
Marvelous Nakamba continue to struggle for game time in Netherlands as he once again failed to make it to the final 18 for his highflying Vitesse who recorded their sixth straight league win over the weekend after beating PEC Zwolle 2-1 at home.
Nakamba’s last appearance, which was on the bench, was in his team’s 1-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam on February 1, a win that that sparked Vitesse’s current good run of form. The highly rated 21-year old has made two appearances for a total eight minutes for his side since switching from France at the start of the season.
