daniel chigunwe
WARRIORS midfielders Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa headlined another weekend of mixed fortunes for Zimbabwe’s international in professional football leagues with the omens still looking good for the senior national team.
Holding midfielder Munetsi began life in the English Premier League, albeit on a 2-1 losing cause with his new club Wolves on their visit to log leaders Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Curiously for many of the Zimbabwean fans watching the game at Anfield, Munetsi, thrust in off the bench after 50 minutes, was handed an unfamiliar position — that of centre striker — as Wolves sought to come back from a 2-0 first-half deficit.
The Zimbabwe vice-captain had a glorious chance coming his way just four minutes after his introduction but was superbly denied by Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker in a one-on-one situation.
Munetsi joined Wolves on the deadline day of the January transfer window.
He made his club debut when featuring as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in the fourth round of the FA Cup last week.
Munetsi was, however, still tasting the rigours of the EPL, with the visit to Liverpool providing him with the sternest of debut tests.
And they were raving about him at Wolves yesterday.
There aren’t many more debuts as difficult as facing Liverpool at Anfield, giving Munetsi a sizeable task on his first English Premier League appearance.
The January deadline day signing made his Wolves debut in the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers, followed by his English Premier League debut at Anfield as he came on as a half-time substitute.
After Munetsi impressed against Blackburn, Vitor Pereira deemed it necessary to call the Zimbabwean into action early at Anfield, with many talking points coming from the player’s debut.
Pereira was right to substitute Goncalo Guedes and Pablo Sarabia, who were far from impressive against Liverpool.
The Wolves manager was left mildly red-faced as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde came on and made a difference, making many question why the Frenchman was left out in the first place.
As well as Bellegarde, Munetsi made a positive impact on proceedings, as the substitutes so nearly combined for a goal shortly after being introduced.
While the deadline-day signing impressed with the energy he brought to the game, pundit Micah Richards spotted something he described as “weird” about the 28-year-old.
“It’s weird because Munetsi sort of played as a number nine, a false nine,” Richards said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“He was dropping in, and then he was the furthest man forward. He’s actually a defensive midfielder, but the manager really rates him. They had more energy in that second half.”
Pereira has hinted about Munetsi being a goal threat for Wolves, with it now abundantly clear that the boss considers the Zimbabwean to be an attacking presence to support in midfield.
Wolves agreed a £17m deal to sign Munetsi from Stade Reims, and the early verdict suggests that the fee could prove to be a bargain.
The 28-year-old’s experience and energy have already provided some exciting moments in the opening stages of his career in England.
Munetsi had a chance to score at Anfield, and while Alisson made himself big to put the Wolves midfielder off, the fact that the chance arose shows promise.
It will be interesting to see how Pereira lines up in the future with Munetsi, given how impactful the January signing was against Liverpool.
In the English Championship, Andy Rinomhota retained his place in the Cardiff City XI but was given a midfield role in their 1-1 draw against Bristol City.
Rinomhota had been playing as a right-back in the previous games.
He featured for 63 minutes in the latest game.
Warriors captain Marvelous Nakamba started for Luton Town, but they lost 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday.
Nakamba for 76 minutes before he was substituted.
Chirewa picked up his second successive Man of the Match award at Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The pencil-slim midfielder was named Huddersfield’s best player in their 2-1 win over Barnsley in the English League One.
The Zimbabwean international started in the match and played as a winger until the 68th minute, when he was brought off after picking a slight knock.
Reading’s Tivonge Rushesha was an unused substitute in their 2-1 win over Rotherham.
In the Belgian Pro League, Bill Antonio registered his first assist of the season for KV Mechelen on Sunday.
The former Zimbabwe youth international started in the 1-0 win against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and played as a winger for 64 minutes.
The 22-year-old also recorded two chances that included a beautiful 10th-minute volley that was superbly saved by the goalkeeper.
In the South African Nedbank Cup, Junior Zindoga was named the Man of the Match after scoring the solitary goal in Marumo Gallants’ 1-0 win over AmaZulu.
It was Zindoga’s first goal for Gallants since his arrival at the club a few weeks ago. Predatory Prince Dube, a former Highlanders striker, was also on target for Yanga SC in their 6-1 win over KMC in the Tanzanian Premier League. — Sports Reporter/Molineux. news
Online Reporter