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A GROUP of young Zimbabwean footballers are making their presence felt in Western Australia, playing for the reserve side of State League Division One side Rockingham City Football Club.
Abraham and Callisto Taona, Thabiso Ncube and Brian Gwatiringa have all impressed in the colours of the Rockingham City FC reserves this season.
Rockingham City FC have been playing in the Western Australia State League Division One league since 2001, having been relegated from the top-flight league the previous year, although they hope to apply for membership of the expanded National Premier League in 2016.
Abraham Taona has made nine appearances, for the Rockingham City FC reserve side this year and scored three goals.
His brother Callisto has made 12 appearances for the side, including six as a substitute, and has scored two goals.
Ncube leads, in terms of the number of appearances for the Zimbabwean players this year, having featured 16 times for the reserve side and scoring eight goals.
But it has been the form of Gwatiringa that has caught the eye.
The 19-year-old Zimbabwean has made 11 appearances for the Rockingham City FC reserve side and scored 11 goals, averaging a goal every match.
Paul Sterling, an Australian who has been watching the progress of these players at Rockingham City FC, says he has been impressed.
He even hinted that he has heard that Gwatiringa could be on his way for trials at English Premiership side Everton.
“I’ve been watching two of your talented young men for the past year now and they have been doing great things here in Australia,” Sterling told The Herald yesterday.
“Their names (are) Brian Gwatiringa and Abraham Taona, they playing soccer at the highest level here and have been receiving accolades every time.
“Brian has been the top goal-scorer for the past two seasons, 25 goals last year and 30 goals this year and this is from a midfielder who’s just 19.
“He has just been mesmerising, he might be going for a trial to Everton next year, so I heard, and Abraham won Players Player of the Season and was the second top goal scorer with 26 goals and his combination with Brian has got people on their toes of how talented they are.
“I felt if your country has, like (an) Under-20 or 23 they should be there and would improve the team.”
However, the official website of the Rockingham City FC show that the Zimbabwean contingent has been playing in the reverse side of the league.
Online Reporter