The Incredible Journey Of Zemura’s Rise To The Premier League With Bournemouth
If Jordan Zemura told you two years ago that he would help Bournemouth win premier league promotion in 2022 you would not believe him, but such is the Zimbabwean’s amazing story.
His meteoric rise from academy football to become an important player in a premier league promotional winning team in just a short space of time is a tale of a dream come true.
The left back’s whirlwind rise into a regular member of the Cherries first team has been as seamless as it has been surprising.
Having joined the Cherries academy in 2019 after released from Charlton Athletic where he had spent eight years in their academy, nobody ever thought Zemura would progress to become pivotal, let alone nail a regular position in the team.
But, after winning the Central league trophy with the U23s in April 2021- his first highlight as a Bournemouth player, it brought the attention of first team coaches who were looking to strengthen the squad.
Having featured sporadically in the first team under Jason Tindall before he left Bournemouth in February 2021, Zemura had shown his talent, the question was always – can he handle the pressure? Does he have the character and pedigree to sustain battles with the big boys in the tough Championship league?
The answers were provided when Scott Parker arrived to take over from Tinsdale in June 2021, using the Zimbabwean regularly in the first team from the beginning of 2021/22 season proving the youngster’s strong and mature mentality.
Ever since his Championship debut in August 2021 against West Brom, the Zimbabwean has never looked back- winning the club’s player of the month award after his first five league games.
His involvement with the Warriors boosted his confidence further. His first international debut for Zimbabwe against Algeria in November 2020 during 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and his subsequent appearance at the AFCON2021 finals in Cameroon where he rubbed shoulders against Africa’s best, molded him into a tough and fearless character.
He became so important to Bournemouth first team that it became hard for Scott Parker to grind maximum points without the Zimbabwean in the team, a fact he alluded to during one of Zemura’s three injury upsets he suffered during the season.
“I’ve been very pleased with JZ and how he has gone about things. When you look at actual points, or games Jordan is involved in.
“In terms of wins and losses, he has only been involved in one loss, ” he said after the team recorded 20 wins in the Zimbabwean’s 21 matches that time.
The Cherries have endured a downward spiral during Zemura’s absence.
Overall, out of the 32 Championship League games Zemura has played for Cherries this season, they have won 22 , drawn seven and lost three of the games.
Without him, they have won twice, drawn on ten occasions and lost once.
Zemura has topped his form by scoring three goals provided an assists and helped keep a total of 14 clean sheets as the team occupied second spot in the championship league with 85 points from 45 games to earn an automatic promotion berth.
He is going to be the second Zimbabwean in the premier league next season alongside Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba and joined a list of other Zimbabwean players to have played in the premier league including Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu, Benjani Mwaruwari and Brendan Galloway, Tendayi Darikwa only featured in Cup games with Burnley but never started a premier league game under Sean Dyche.
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