Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THANDO NGWENYA underlined his growing reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s finest forwards on Thursday night when he rose above Kaizer Chiefs’ defence to nod home a clever near-post header, his fourth goal of the Betway Premier League season in South Africa.
It wasn’t just another strike. Scoring at Johannesburg’s iconic FNB Stadium, home of Kaizer Chiefs, the region’s most followed club, has humbled many big names over the years. But Ngwenya, cool and composed, turned that famous venue into his stage.
The move began down the left flank where AmaZulu pieced together a neat exchange before a low cross found Ngwenya darting into space. He met it with perfect timing, steering the ball past the helpless goalkeeper and silencing the stadium.
Each time he was on the ball, Chiefs’ backline looked uneasy. His composure, movement and work rate showed exactly why AmaZulu’s decision to bring him in last August was a smart piece of business. The forward’s tally now stands at four goals from eight league matches, only two shy of the league’s top scorers.
Ngwenya’s rise from FC Platinum, where he left after netting nine goals in the local Premiership, has been seamless. He’s proving himself a consistent finisher, and with the Warriors facing South Africa in a World Cup qualifier on Friday, he’s pushing hard for a starting berth.
Coach Michael Nees, under fire for failing to get the best out of both local and foreign talent, could use a confident, in-form striker like Ngwenya. With Zimbabwe already out of contention, the next two fixtures, against South Africa and Lesotho, are a chance to experiment and rebuild.
It was also a weekend of personal milestones for other Zimbabweans abroad. Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi was outstanding for Marumo Gallants, singlehandedly guiding his team into the next round of the Carling Black Label Cup.
After the match ended level, Arubi saved three penalties before stepping up to convert the winner himself. Only a fortnight ago, he denied Kaizer Chiefs from the spot, and with his confidence surging, he remains the Warriors’ most dependable choice in goal heading toward the AFCON finals in December.
Former Warriors forward Knox Mutizwa also enjoyed a dream return. The ex-Golden Arrows striker, who had been out of contract for over six months, scored twice on debut for his new club, Richards Bay, inspiring a 4–1 Carling Black Label victory over Chippa United.
Mutizwa, once Golden Arrows’ all-time top scorer ahead of legend Mabhuti Khanyeza, walked away with the Man of the Match prize and R100,000. His resurgence came just as fellow countryman Elvis Chipezeze shone for Magesi, making crucial saves in a 3–2 win over AmaZulu. Chipezeze also claimed the Man of the Match cheque and a place in the last eight.
In Denmark, defender Munashe Garananga had a mixed outing. He came off the bench to score his first goal in the Danish Superliga, putting his side ahead in the 80th minute, but was later shown a red card after a VAR review in stoppage time. His team held on for a 1–1 draw against Midtjylland.
