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ZIMBABWEAN strikers Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi remain vitals cogs in their teams and were on target over the weekend in their respective leagues in China and Saudi Arabia.
Warriors midfielders Marvelous Nakamba and Marshal Munetsi were also in action, albeit on losing causes.
Nakamba marked his return to the English Premiership but his Luton were on the receiving end of a 4-1 hiding away at Brighton.
Munetsi was also in action in Reims’s opening match in Ligue 1, which ended in a 2-1 defeat by Marseille.
Japan international Junya Ito volleyed Reims ahead early at the Velodrome in the 10th minute but Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi curled in a brilliant equaliser from 25 yards in the 23rd minute.
Portuguese striker Vitinha then struck the winner for Marseille.
While it was despair for Nakamba and Munetsi, there was joy for ex-Warriors skipper Musona as he scored a historic goal for Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday evening.
The 33-year-old Musona’s goal was enough to earn Al Riyadh a 1-0 win over a dominant Al Wehda in their opening match of the season.
It was Al Riyadh’s first goal and first win in the Saudi Pro League, having earned promotion into the top-flight at the end of the 2022/23 season.
And their captain Musona led the way with a second half strike.
Former CAPS United forward Mushekwi who has been in sublime form took his tally to 13 goals from 20 matches when he scored a double in a 4-3 victory over pacesetters Shanghai Port in China.
According to international media reports, Mushekwi headed the opener before completing his brace with a penalty rebound after the initial effort by Jean Kouassi had been blocked.
Mushekwi keeps getting better with age and continues to score for fun in the League.
Last season, the Zimbabwean striker scored 18 in leading Zhejiang to the Asian Champions League qualifiers. In the previous campaign, he scored 23 as Zhejiang won promotion back to the Super League.
The victory brought Mushekwi within two goals of the league’s top scorer Leonardo but more importantly pushed his side, Zhejiang to within three points of a place in the Asian Champions League qualifiers, which comes courtesy of third place.
There are still another eight league games to play for Zhejiang, who finished third last year and will be playing in the 2023/24 Asian Champions League which begins on August 22 against Port FC from Thailand.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the stream of talent heading to the Gulf state last season when he joined Al Nassr in December after leaving Manchester United.
Saudi Arabia plan to use their riches to turn the Pro League into a top-10 league and have handed out some huge deals. — Sports Reporter/Wires.
Online Reporter