Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
FORMER Chicken Inn fringe midfielder, Bravie Sibanda will be playing Second Division football next season.He is feeling on top of the world after he got his second consecutive league title in Slovakia’s Third Division.In Slovakia, Sibanda (27) plays for FKM Nové Zámkyand, on their way to the league’s glory, they thumped Hurbanovo 7-2 to take their points’ tally to an unassailable 66 points with three games to spare.
Interestingly, Sibanda, who won his first gold medal in Slovakia’s elite league while turning out for OFK Banik Lehota PodVtacknikom, was on target when they dismissed Hurbanovo.In the process, he took his goal tally to 17 in all competitions.He has 12 assists under his belt from 31 league and cup games.
In an interview from his base in Slovakia, Sibanda said: “It’s difficult for me to express myself. It’s an amazing thing for me and I’m so happy for myself and I’m grateful to those who have always supported me.”
His impact is undeniable following a football journey that has taken him to South Africa and Swaziland. Before his success in Slovakia, Sibanda had struggled to secure a starting position at Chicken Inn and subsequently played for Swaziland’s Manzini Wanderers.
His current accomplishment is a testament to his resilience and aptitude to familiarise himself with new environments.
With Sibanda rejoicing, Warriors captain midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, could not sing from the same hymn book as his English Premiership side Luton Town was relegated from the English Premiership that concluded on Sunday.
Luton Town were the third and final Premier League outfit to be relegated this season, following the conclusion of Nottingham Forest’s clash with Burnley.
Going into last weekend’s fixtures, the Hatters sat 18th on the table – three points adrift of Forest and with a far inferior goal difference.
But after dropping more points at West Ham in Sunday’s 3pm kick-off match, Luton knew that a draw or win would see them go down with Forest, the beneficiaries.
Warriors defender, Shane Maroodza has reportedly been released by English club Huddersfield Town.
Maroodza will not have his contract renewed when it expires on June 30. He was released along with 19 other players, mostly from the academy.
Unheralded Michael Ndiweni, announced his exit from Newcastle United after eight years with the club.Ndiweni will reportedly leave the EPL side when his contract expires on June 30.The Warriors hopeful took to Instagram to confirm the news.
“After eight years, it’s now time to say goodbye to my boyhood club. During these years, I’ve experienced things that 12-year-old me could have only hoped for. I was once a kid in the stands that used to watch the team every other week and always dreamt of being able to put on that black and white shirt. I have been able to represent this unbelievable club from academy level to the first team and to make my EPL debut at SJP (St James Park) is something that I will never forget.”
In Botswana, Daniel Msendami and Nqobizitha Masuku’s Jwaneng Galaxy was on Sunday beaten 1-0 by Township Rollers.
Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu, a former Highlanders, Bulawayo City and Bantu Rovers coach was left a disappointed man after he watched his Sua Flamingoes charges play a 3-3 draw against Security Systems.
“I must say it’s a two-point loss. You know if you go 3-1, that’s a very good cushion with 30 minutes to go. The calibre of players and the experience that we have, we could have done better. We always learn the hard way,” said a devastated Mpofu.
In South Africa, a referee has reportedly been suspended by the South African Football Association (Safa) after failing to give a red card to Mamelodi Sundowns and Zimbabwe international defender Devine Lunga in the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Stellenbosch, played a fortnight ago.
The referee, Jelly Chavani didn’t issue a second yellow card to Lunga following his crude challenge on winger Devin Titus in the first half.
Lunga was already on another yellow card when the incident happened and the Sundowns technical quickly substituted him.
According to South Africa’s City Press, the Safa review committee felt that Chavani should have issued a second yellow card to Lunga, which would have resulted in his sending off.The association has now suspended the referee following that mistake.—@FungaiMuderere
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