England-based striker Macauley Bonne is excited to be back playing for Zimbabwe national team years after earning his two caps in friendly matches against Lesotho and Namibia.
Bonne is part of the team which is currently taking part in the four nations’ tournament involving hosts Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.
The 28-year-old footballer, who plays for Cambridge United in the English League One, appears to have made up his mind to represent Zimbabwe after countless call ups in the past.
In fact his involvement with the Warriors has been subject to controversy over the years amid reports that he was asked to pay large sums of money by an unnamed Zifa official to get the requisite papers to represent Zimbabwe.
At some point Bonne was said to have a medical condition which prohibits him from playing in extreme high temperatures which made it difficult for him to come play for Zimbabwe.
But the striker has finally decided to join the Warriors in Malawi and will certainly be an invaluable addition to the squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in June.
"I am back and I am here because I have wanted to play for Zimbabwe and I am glad I am back now and I am not going to waste any time now so I am just going to put all the talk in the pitch," Bonne declared ahead of yesterday's semifinal against Zambia.
"Mine, personally is to win the game of course for the team but for me personally I wanna score goals for Zimbabwe. I scored one years ago. I want to score another just to get the feeling back," he said of his targets after coming back into the Warriors' fold.
- Gold panners dig up school premises
- New MPs in baptism of fire
- Cave pot leads to gold rush in Kwekwe
- Ghetto dances: Oh Lord, I really messed up on the day!
Keep Reading
Bonne is currently on loan at Cambridge United from League Two side Gillingham until the end of the season.
The striker has played 10 matches for Cambridge United since his move in January and is yet to score a goal.
He reflects on his experience in the Warriors camp earlier in the week.
"It's been tough, the weather hasn't really helped me coming from England but I really enjoyed getting to know the boys. It's been a tough three days but on the second you could see
"Everyone is a big family and you have fun, you have laughs and obviously coming from England there are a few of us English boys coming across and everyone has made us feel welcome, there is no separation. We are one big team. I have really enjoyed it and I am happy," he said.
Bonne made his initial debut for the Zimbabwe Under-23 side in a friendly match against Morocco in November 2014 and had a dream start to his international career, scoring the opening goal after 18 minutes as the Young Warriors lost the match 2–1
In August 2015, he was called up by the senior Zimbabwe side for their 2017 Afcon Qualifiers against Guinea on 6 September, however, he pulled out of the squad due to club commitments.
He was called up again in March 2016 passport issues forced him to pull out of another Afcon qualifying match against Swaziland before making his first senior appearance in November 2017 in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lesotho and days later, he played as a second-half substitute in the Warriors’ 3-1 defeat against Namibia.
