THERE were mixed fortunes for Zimbabwe internationals across the globe as domestic football returned after the 10-day Fifa break for national teams.
There were big wins for Tendayi Darikwa and Knox Mutizwa while Terrence Dzvukamanja, Ronald Pfumbidzayi and Onismor Bhasera featured in a heavy defeat for their side while Tino Kadewere watched the action from the bench.
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Book NowBelow is a breakdown of how Zimbabwe international footballers fared this weekend:
Onismor Bhasera
Big win for Darikwa
Zimbabwe international defender, Tendayi Darikwa was yellow carded but lasted the distance as his Cypriot First Division side and log leaders Apollon thumped hosts AEZ 5-0 late on Sunday.
Unbeaten Apollon have won five and drawn three of their opening eight matches and Darikwa has featured in all the matches, lasting the distance in seven of them to take his minutes on the field to 711 out of 720.
Darikwa has one goal to his credit, an equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Apoel in a Week 4 fixture on September 17.
The 31-year-old has been yellow carded on three occasions.
He moved to Cyprus this year at the end of his contract with English League One side, Wigan Athletic where he was between 2021 and end of the 2022/23 season.
Tino unused, Lyon slump to bottom
Zimbabwe international striker Tino Kadewere sat out the match as seven-time French champions Olympique Lyon lost 1-2 at home to Clermont, who went into the match bottom of the league and winless.
Lyon now have the unwanted record of being the only team without a win in the Ligue 1 after nine matches — three draws and six defeats.
Tino has taken part in four Ligue 1 matches in 2023/2024 overall and accumulated 125 minutes of playing time.
He has started in one of these appearances across their nine fixtures and been used as a late substitute on three occasions.
The last league game that Kadewere played came on October 1 for Lyon against Marshall Munetsi’s Stade de Reims, a game that he played 22 minutes in a 2-0 loss.
It has been a difficult period for Kadewere, who played 15 Spanish La Liga matches last season for Mallorca and scored one goal.
Dzvukamanja score in heave defeat
Zimbabwe international striker Terrence Dzvukamanja scored an 88th minute consolation as SuperSport United suffered a 1-4 defeat in the opening round of the South African Carling Knockout Cup.
Dzvukamanja replaced Etiosa Ighodaro at the start of the second half and created anxious moments in the Polokwane goal area.
In the 87th minute, Dzvukamanja’s header from the centre of the box was saved by the goalkeeper but the former Orlando Pirates hitman could not be denied a minute later, finding the top right corner with a left footed shot from outside the box.
The 29-year-old Dzvukamanja has two goals in the DStv Premiership after eight matches.
Tino Kadewere
While Dzvukamanja was a second half substitute, another Zimbabwe international Ronald Pfumbidzai lasted the distance and had an effort saved in the 60th minute.
Former Zimbabwe international Onismor Bhasera was introduced in the 46th minute and yellow carded in the 60th minute for a bad foul.
Mutizwa seals Arrows’ scoring
Zimbabwe international striker lived to his promise and found the target on his return to South African Premiership side, Golden Arrows after reporting for national duty in Harare the previous week.
Mutizwa told journalists in Harare that his form at Arrows had dipped and wanted to double his effort to reclaim his place in the Arrows starting 11 while finding the target regularly.
He did just that on Saturday as he came in as a 46th minute substitute and scored Arrows’ third goal 12 minutes later in a 3-1 win over Cape Town City in the opening round of the Carling Knockout Cup in Mpumalanga.
The teams were 1-1 at the break but Arrows scored two quick goals by Nduduzo Sibiya (48th minute penalty) and Mutizwa (58th minute) to see off the struggling visitors.
The 30-year-old Mutizwa has featured in just four of Golden Arrows’ eight league matches to date, starting in two and coming on as a substitute in the other two matches.
Chronicle
