Back to work for Zim’s Euro stars

Sports Reporter

A NUMBER of Zimbabwe international footballers plunged into action in England at the weekend as the new English football season roared into life.

The lower leagues of England got underway on Friday while the Premiership will start this week.

Queens Park Rangers striker Macauley Bonne featured for 13 minutes in their 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers in the second-tier Championship.

Macauley had been prolific during the off-season preparations.

Luton Town’s Admiral Muskwe was not part of the Match Day squad in the team’s goalless draw against Birmingham.

Tendayi Darikwa played 90 minutes in Wigan Athletic’s goalless draw against Preston North End on Saturday.

The Warriors international retained his right-back position in the starting XI and captained the team in their first match in the English Championship.

The Latics were promoted after winning League One last season.

Midfielder Andy Rinomhota was booked on the opening day of the Championship season.

The Cardiff City midfielder made his debut for the club in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Norwich City.

He started the match as one of the central midfielders and was subbed off in the 81st minute.

In League One, Brendan Galloway was an unused substitute in the season opener against Barnsley, which they won 1-0.

The Harare-born left-back is yet to return to full fitness, having recovered from a horrible knee injury in November last year.

The knock kept him out of action for the rest of the season.

Isaac Mabaya was not part of the Liverpool squad that won the FA Community Shield against Manchester City on Saturday.

Instead, the 17-year-old featured in the friendly match against French side Strasbourg the following day at Anfield.

The squad had several academy players and a few senior squad stars such as the Reds’ vice-captain James Milner, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté and Harvey Elliott.

In the American Major League Soccer, injury forced Teenage Hadebe out of the Houston Dynamo’s 0-6 humiliation at the hands of Philadelphia Union on Sunday.

The French Ligue 1 starts this week.

It remains to be seen whether or not Tino Kadewere, who is being linked with a move away from Lyon, will feature for his side.

Stade Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi is expected to be one of the leading players at the club this season.

Munetsi had his contract extended by the French club after excelling last season.