Zimbabwe Foreign Based Team Of The Week
Welcome once again to our second week of the best players that performed well in the week that ended. We take consideration of players who featured for their respective clubs from Monday to Sunday.
Below are the eleven players that were selected based on their performance in the week that ended and we congratulate all of them for making it to our TOTW and we wish them the best in the coming weeks.
Goalkeeper – Washington Arubi (Supersport United)
The veteran Warriors goalie was selected to start for Supersport United as they progressed to the group stages of the Confederations cup after a convincing 3-0 win over Botswana’s Gaborone United with Arubi making crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
Right-Back – Tendayi Darikwa (Apollon Limassol)
Tendayi Darikwa has been consistent ever since he joined the Cypriot Top Division. The Zimbabwe Warriors right-back returned his position in the team of the week with another outstanding display for Apollon Limassol as they edge Aris 0-1 away in the Cypriot Top Division. Darikwa has now helped Limassol to keep their third clean sheet in six games and have only conceded three goals so far in the league.
Left-Back – Jordan Zemura (Udanese FC)
The former Bournemouth star was introduced at the start of second half with his team Udanese trailing 2-1 against Genoa and came back in the dying minutes to draw 2-2 and earn a point. The Zimbabwe Warriors left-back produced a fine performance winning seven over eight of the duels he was involved in and made six tackles and had a sofarscore rating of 7.2 over ten. Zemura who is still to make a first start in the Serie A is gradually proving his worth and could tie down a starting position anytime soon.
Center-Back – Munashe Garananga (Sheriff Tiraspol)
The former Prince Edward and Ubuntu Cape Town academy graduate continued with his solid performances for Tiraspol and has already made the center back position his own at the club featuring week in week out for the Moldovian side. He was once again exceptional as Sheriff Tiraspol beat Balti 4-0 in the league match played on Saturday.
Center-Back Teenage Hadebe (Huston Dynamo)
Hadebe returned his spot in the TOTW after another solid display for Huston Dynamo as they draw nil all against FC Dallas on Saturday. Hadebe played the full game, had 104 touches on the ball and made 96 over 100 accurate passes providing four accurate long balls into the opposition area.
Central Midfielder – Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town)
Marvelous Nakamba was exceptional in the middle of the park as Luton Town booked their first ever premier league win with a 2-1 win against Everton on Saturday. Nakamba made six tackles, won eight out of eleven duels he was involved in and completed 23 successful passes. He also provided the team with one key pass
Midfielder – Nyasha Marshall Munetsi (Stade Reims)
The former Orlando Pirates player is currently in amazing form for Stade Reims. After his double assists in last weekend’ victory, the Mabvuku-born star scored a goal in Reims’ 2-0 win over Tinotenda Kadewere’s Lyon on Sunday to maintain his position in the TOTW. He now has a goal contribution of five goals in seven matches so far in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
Attacking Midfielder Knowledge Musona (Al Riyadh)
The former Warriors captain featured twice for his team this week beginning with a superb performance against Al Fayha in the Kings cup on Thursday where he was everywhere on the pitch making 64 touches of the ball, winning six over nine of his duels, 4 tackles, providing three goal scoring chances and a sofarscore rate of 7.6 over ten the best in his team as they unfortunately lost the match 2-1 to Al Fayha. Musona was once again on the starting XI as they managed to get a win this time around registering a 1-0 win over Abha in the Saudi professional league.
Striker – Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City)
The former Ubuntu Cape Town academy graduate played a pivotal role as Polokwane City edged Royal AM 1-0 in the Dstv premiership. Mapfumo provided the team with four goal scoring chances, created one big chance and could have scored but hit a woodwork. Nevertheless the Zimbabwean put on a commendable performance. Sofarscore rating gave him a 7.4 over 10.
Forward – Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen)
The Belgium based former Prince Edward academy player and Dynamos teenage star is currently in good form at KV Mechelen reserve side where he has since become a regular in the squad. He started and played full game in their 1-0 win over Tempo Overyjse on Saturday and was involved in the build up play that produced the only goal of the match. Antonio has so far scored two league goals in seven matches for KV Mechelen under-23s
Forward – Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)
Reiss Nelson! I know some of you already started throwing some ‘negative vibe’ just by seeing us including his name in the Zimbabwe Foreign Based Team Of The Week – I get it. But those in the know will not rush to judge. He hasn’t said anything because he is not yet formally approached by ZIFA. Without further ado let’s see how this ‘Mbare’ boy performed over last week. He started and scored in in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Brentford in the Carabao cup on Wednesday and featured in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier league on Saturday after coming on as a substitute.
Substitutes: Macauley Bonne (Gillingham F. C), Jonah Fabisch (Magdeburg), Nyasha Mushekwi (Zhejiang)
