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Aston Villa boss Gerrard hails impact of ‘fantastic’ Nakamba

Published

3 years ago

December 1, 2021

BY JOSEPH CHAPMAN

Steven Gerrard knows his onions when it comes to midfielders and the Aston Villa manager has been delighted by the application and attitude of Marvelous Nakamba since he walked through the doors of Bodymoor Heath.

The Zimbabwe international, who Villa are anticipating the loss of once the African Nations Cup begins next month, has delivered two superb performances from central midfield under Gerrard’s stewardship, both of them contributions to Premier League victories over Brighton ad the Crystal Palace.

The visit of Manchester City, with the midfield and attacking firepower they boast , will be as difficult a challenge as Nakamba will face in his holding role this season, but up to now Gerrard has been impressed and pleased with his selflessness and quality, while predicting he can still make further improvements to his game.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s trained extremely well,” Gerrard revealed.

“He’s been really open, his two performances have been outstanding.

We were aware of Marvelous before we came in, but he’s somebody who has really stood up and jumped out, he’s basically said in the two weeks, ‘I’m here, I want to contribute, I want to be available’.

“He’s still young, he can get better. “

“He’s around the right people for that to happen, he’s in the right environment for that. We’re really pleased to have him.”

Nakamba, Gerrard and Villa are well aware of City’s qualities.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won their last five matches in all competitions and come to Villa Park having edged past West Ham on Sunday.

Even with players missing through injury and suspension, City boss Guardiola is able to name a starting line-up that most Premier League managers would love to have at their disposal, and for Gerrard it’s a case of Wednesday night (9.15pm Zimbabwean time) being an opportunity to gauge just how far his side have come in a short space of time.

“Very much looking forward to it, it’s the acid test that we need, of where we are,” he added.

“We are on the back of a couple of good results and positive performances, but we need this type of game to find out where we are. – Birmingham Live

In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

Published

1 week ago

May 15, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

The Hwange police are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating 16-year-old Latoya Lisa Munkuli, who went missing on May 7, this month.

Latoya, a dark-complexioned female juvenile, was last seen leaving her residence in Hwange around 4 pm.

She was wearing a distinctive outfit consisting of green trousers and a white T-shirt, and carried a black satchel. She stands approximately 1.6 meters tall.

Inspector Glory Banda of the Hwange police is leading the investigation and urges anyone with information about Latoya’s whereabouts to come forward.

If you have any information about Latoya’s disappearance, please contact Inspector Banda on 0785961747 or 0771256607.

National

Coal train in flames: NRZ locomotive damaged in fire incident

Published

1 month ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) locomotive suffered significant damage after catching fire while transporting export coal to Zambi. The incident occurred between Kalala and Matetsi sidings, resulting in the explosion of the locomotive’s fuel tanks.

According to the NRZ press statement on Monday, “A National Railways of Zimbabwe locomotive suffered some damages after it caught fire this afternoon while transporting export coal to Zambia.” Fortunately, the crew members on board managed to escape unharmed.

The NRZ responded swiftly to the incident, dispatching a rescue train with crews to the site. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further damage. However, the locomotive itself sustained considerable damage.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, with investigations currently underway. “Investigations are already underway to establish the cause of the fire and the amount of damage to the locomotive,” the NRZ statement read.

In the community

Human-wildlife conflict claims 18 lives in Zimbabwe’s first quarter

Published

1 month ago

April 16, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reported a disturbing trend of human-wildlife conflict in the country’s first quarter of 2025. According to the authority, 18 people have lost their lives, and 32 others have been injured in encounters with wildlife.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo revealed that the authority received 579 cases of human-wildlife conflict, which they managed to respond to promptly. The incidents have also resulted in significant livestock losses, with at least 53 cattle and 85 goats killed by wildlife.

The districts most affected by these incidents include Binga, Hwange, Kariba, Chiredzi, Hurungwe, Nyaminyami, and Mbire. ZimParks has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about wildlife behaviors and effective preventive measures in these areas.

In response to the crisis, ZimParks has translocated 129 animals back into protected areas and eliminated 158 animals deemed problematic.

“We encourage communities to continue reporting incidents to ZimParks Problem Animal Control numbers and local leadership, such as Councillors, Traditional Leaders, and Rural District Council Authorities, to ensure that we preserve lives,” Farawo urged.

The significant increase in livestock losses, with cattle deaths rising from 18 to 53 and goat deaths from 21 to 85 compared to the same period in 2024, highlights the growing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe.

ZimParks’ efforts to mitigate the conflict include community initiatives to educate people on managing wildlife encounters effectively.