Nakamba in treatment room again… Chipezeze shines in South Africa

Marvelous Nakamba has suffered an injury and will be out of the Warriors’ next World Cup Qualifiers against Benin and Nigeria this month.

Nakamba sustained a soleus injury in the calf muscles and will be out of action for at least six weeks.
Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield confirmed the injury, saying: “Shandon (Baptiste) and Marv are both out for six weeks. Both got soleus injuries, so we’ll be missing them for a little period of time.”

The gaffer added: “We took Marvelous (Nakamba) off at half-time at Watford because I felt like he wasn’t moving very well. I didn’t realise he was injured. We were getting overrun. We have spoken about that already. About how we need to be quicker, we need to be fitter. We need to be more robust and play more games regularly. So we’ve had to make three changes to affect the game at half-time. And then I found out that he had a tight calf. Then I got told he had a scan and it was six weeks out.”

Nakamba has made 21 league appearances this season after returning from a long term knee injury that side-lined him for over nine months.

Meanwhile, ex-Warriors goal minder Elvis Chipezeze was again at his usual best in a development that saw him clinch another Man Of The Match (MOTM) award as his side Magesi edged Supersport United 1-0 in South Africa’s Betway Premiership to boost their relegation zone fight.

The Zimbabwean goalkeeper has since late last year been in scintillating form, playing a pivotal role in Magesi FC’s triumph in the Carling Black Label Cup.

His stellar performances, including a historic fourth consecutive Man of the Match award in South African football, reignited discussions about his potential return to the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors.

Chipezeze was instrumental in Magesi FC’s 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the tournament final in November last year.

Reflecting on his journey, the 34-year-old expressed his determination to stay consistent and work hard, leaving his national team ambitions in the hands of the coach.

“I’m focused on helping my club grow,” Chipezeze shared.
“Of course, I would like to return to the national team, but the guys there are performing well. My focus is to continue delivering strong performances and letting the rest fall into place.”

With the next Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) scheduled for December 2025, Chipezeze sees time as an ally in his quest for sustained excellence.

“Hard work brings rewards, and I’ll keep striving for consistency. If I keep performing week in and week out, everything else will follow,” said the former Chicken Inn goalminder.

Winning the Carling Black Label Cup marked Chipezeze’s second major tournament victory, following a similar triumph with Baroka FC in 2018. Reflecting on both wins, he noted their shared underdog narratives.
“In both cases, no one gave us a chance, yet through hard work, we achieved what many thought was impossible,” he said. — @FungaiMuderere.