Munetsi falls to huge defeat in France

Sports Reporter

MARSHALL Munetsi was at the receiving end of a 1-4 thrashing as Stade de Reims were taught a lesson by Marseille on Sunday.

The Zimbabwe international midfielder started the game and was benched in the 80th minute.

Action in the French top-flight season got underway at the weekend.

Tino Kadewere’s Lyon got the ball rolling with a 2-1 win over newly-promoted, AC Ajaccio, on Friday night.

The Zimbabwe forward was registered in the squad for the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season despite being placed on the transfer list.

He has been linked with several clubs across Europe. Marvelous Nakamba missed the Premier League season opener against Bournemouth on Saturday. The midfielder was not part of the Villa Match Day squad. He also missed the team’s final pre-season friendly.

Cherries fullback, Jordan Zemura, made his Premier League debut in the encounter, playing the entire ninety minutes as his side registered a brilliant 2-0 win.

Zemura played more defensively and did enough to contain much of the threat from his wing. He also became the sixth Cherries academy graduate to represent the club in the top-flight league. The Zimbabwean followed in the footsteps of Baily Cargill, Matt Worthington, Jack Simpson, Sam Surridge and Mark Travers.

UK-born Tavonga Kuleya also made a league debut, coming in as a substitute in Doncaster Rovers’ 2-1 victory over Sutton United, in the English League Two.

The 18-year-old started on the bench and was introduced in the 81st minute.

Kuleya’s league debut came a week after he signed a two-year professional contract with the club.

Tendayi Darikwa featured in the entire match as Wigan Athletic and Norwich City settled for a 1-1 draw in the second match on their return to the English Championship on Saturday.

The Warriors international retained his right-back position in the starting XI and captained his side. Queens Park Rangers striker Macauley Bonne only featured for three minutes in their 3-2 win over Middlesborough.

Luton Town’s Admiral Muskwe was not part of the Match Day squad that drew 1-1 against Burnley.

Brendan Galloway was an unused substitute by Plymouth Argyle due to lack of match fitness.

The left-back recently recovered from a serious knee injury, which kept him out of action for eight months.