Ndlovu urges Stars to fight on
ZIMBABWE international defender Bekithemba Ndlovu, who plies his trade in the South African premiership should be a relieved man, and understandably so, when struggling Platinum Stars appointed a new technical team headed by Argentinean mentor Miguel Gamondi.
SaMaNdlo, as one of the woeful performers in Stars’ atrocious defending of late is popularly known, has been one of the casualties of the fired technical team’s plan to turn around the fortunes of the team.
Sacked coach Thierry Mulonzo pulled out Ndlovu in the 6-2 mauling by Moroka Swallows, Ndlovu’s former team, as the defence chased shadows all afternoon. He was conspicuous with his absence after he was dropped for the following game- a one-all draw with Orlando Pirates.
The Matobo-born defender however remains defiant in the wake of this setback insisting that he would be back and the team would rediscover its form.
“Yeah, those things happen in football,” the towering ex-Highlanders fullback said as he urged his team mates to put the setback behind them and concentrate on the second half of the season which resumes in February.
Having played in two African Nations Cups and the CAF Champions League, Ndlovu is one of the most seasoned campaigners in the team and would be vital in the revival of the Lions of the North.
Stars, with the highest number of Zimbabweans in any South African club (Ndlovu, Tapuwa Kapini and Joel Luphahla), are a far cry from the club that finished second last season and won the lucrative Telkom Knockout.
They find themselves in the lower echelons of the league, staring relegation in the face.
Warrior women beat Zambia
MIGHTY Warriors capped another fine form when they beat Zambia 3-1 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka to book a place into the 2008 African Women’s Championship to be held in Equatorial Guinea next year.
Goals from hard running Zimbabwean female front-runner Marjory Nyaumwe and super-substitute Ntombiyelanga Ndlovu saw the Mighty Warriors move closer to the finals.
Coached by former Dynamos, CAPS United and Black Rhinos coach, Moses “Razorman” Chunga, Zimbabwe women were the first to score thereby dampening any hopes by the Zambian women of reversing the 3-1 defeat suffered at Gwanzura Stadium, Harare some three weeks ago.
Double victory for Zim U-17
The Zimbabwe Under-17 soccer squad thrashed South Africa 4-2 on penalties to lift the COSAFA under-17 regional championship in the final that was strongly contested at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Namibia on Saturday.
The Rodwell Dhlakama coached under-17 boys are also the holders of the Anoca Zone Six championship, contested in Botswana recently.
Whilst the under-17, Young Warriors under-20 have shown the nation and the world at large that the Zimbabwean football has come out of age, the senior Warriors failed the nation at the crucial tournament of the Africa Cup of Nations and the prestigious World Cup.
The Warriors have never qualified in any World Cup competitions since the tournament was introduced.
The victory in both Namibia and South Africa by the U-17 and the U-20 teams auger well as these players will form the basis of the senior squad to represent the country in 2010.
Brit set to win SA open
IN the absence of world number one golfer, Tiger Woods, England’s Oliver Wilson is set to clinch the South African open. He led with 5-under 67 shot over the weekend as he took a one-shot lead.
Zimbabwe’s Mark McNulty and former world golfer, Nick Price were not present at the tournament, which continues this week with Wilson expected to emerge the winner.
Wilson was at 4-under 212 into the final round, but facing some serious challenge from James Kingston, who occupied the second position. Another promising golfer, Garth Mulroy, was in third position.
The hosts South Africa is represented by Professional Golfer and defending champion Ernie Els.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News