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Aston Villa feels injured Marvelous Nakamba’s absence

Published

3 years ago

February 12, 2022

BY PATRICK ROWE

When Steven Gerrard was appointed as Aston Villa boss many fans and pundits anticipated a positive impact on the midfielders already at the club.

None of which felt the benefit of having Gerrard’s expertise in charge more than Marvelous Nakamba.

Nakamba started every single game for Villa until suffering a severe knee injury in the fixture against Liverpool at Anfield, and in his absence Villa have looked increasingly more vulnerable defensively.

Speaking on the impact of Nakamba in the early stages of his tenure, Gerrard stated this: “We knew he was a good player, but we’re really pleased with how he’s gone about it in the past couple of weeks.”

Nakamba was a key component in the opening games of the Gerrard era and his impact was felt right from the start.

In the first two games against Brighton and Crystal Palace Nakamba recorded seven tackles, two blocks, two interceptions and a 92% pass accuracy.

In these two fixtures, Villa limited their opponents to seven shots per game, a 0.65 expected goals (xG) value and 12 shot creating actions.

However, in the last five games opponents have averaged just under 17 shots, 1.2 xG and 21 shot creating actions.

The absence of Marvelous Nakamba has been felt dramatically as Villa look easier to pick apart and create against.

Douglas Luiz has attempted to fill the void the Zimbabwean has left, but sadly does not offer the same defensive cover when operating as the holding midfielder.

Villa have shown their resilience at times, as outlined in their second half defensive performance in the 1-0 win against Everton prior to the winter break.

However, given the volume of shots and chances they are now allowing, performances similar to the Leeds United one seem inevitable at times. – Birmingham Mail

Related Topics:Aston Villa Marvelous Nakamba Steven Gerrard

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In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

Published

2 weeks 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.