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Nakamba the catalyst for Aston Villa’s stunning victory

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BY PATRICK ROWE

BIRMINGHAM- The substitution of John McGinn for Marvelous Nakamba raised some eyebrows in Saturday’s game against Everton –it would prove to be an inspired decision.

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Marvelous Nakamba was substituted on in the 40 th minute due to John McGinn suffering from dizziness after he took a blow to the head.

McGinn is quite the attacking threat in this side and the decision to bring on a very defensive minded player like Nakamba caused some unrest in the crowd at the time.

Emiliano Buendia is capable of playing in centre midfield and offers a lot both going forward and defensively, so fans were perplexed when they saw Nakamba stripped off and ready to come on.

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He replaced Douglas Luiz in the holding midfielder role, and this then allowed the Brazilian to operate in the areas McGinn was previously roaming.

It was this change that ultimately proved to be the deciding factor in this tough fixture against Everton.

Nakamba possesses an innate ability to disrupt the opposition and it was no different in this game.

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He consistently broke the play up and halted any Everton player that came his way.

His defensive ability is never in question, what fans do have doubts about is his ability on the ball. In this game however, he seemingly put this issue to bed.

He had a pass completion rate of 95.2% after completing 20 passes.

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He looked confident and assured and his passing was crisp and direct to his teammates. Fans are often on edge when he has the ball but in this game he looked like a completely different player to the one that had struggled previously.

It was a welcome sight.

These passes weren’t just lateral or backwards either, he completed five passes to the final third which was the second highest number within the team, behind only Tyrone Mings.

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He did an excellent job of not providing his teammates with possession, but also progressing the team forward.

His role in pre-season hinted that Dean Smith would be asking more of him in this aspect.

It was trialled against Watford in the opening game and although his attempt was valiant, the overall performance of the side meant any outlook fans had on his performance was most likely dampened.

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As he acted as the anchor in midfield, it allowed Luiz to get forward with freedom he previously hasn’t had.

He set up Matty Cash for the opening goal and was influential throughout.

This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the role that Nakamba played.

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There are of course still issues with Nakamba’s play.

Only two of the 20 passes he completed were with his right foot.

He is heavily left footed, and this lack of balance means the extra time he takes to shift the ball to his preferred foot either increases the likelihood he is dispossessed, or the momentum of the team is stunted.

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The Villa midfield also dominated throughout, and it isn’t these games that Nakamba’s ability is questioned.

It is the game’s where the opposition are pressing intensively and forcing errors where issues may arise for the Zimbabwe international.

As he acted as the anchor in midfield, it allowed Luiz to get forward with freedom he previous hasn’t had.

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He set up Matty Cash for the opening goal and was influential throughout.

This wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the role that Nakamba played.

There are of course still issues with Nakamba’s play.

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Only two of the 20 passes he completed were with his right foot.

He is heavily left footed, and this lack of balance means the extra time he takes to shift the ball to his preferred foot either increases the likelihood he is dispossessed, or the momentum of the team is stunted.

The Villa midfield also dominated throughout, and it isn’t these games that Nakamba’s ability is questioned.

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It is the game’s where the opposition are pressing intensively and forcing errors where issues may arise for the Zimbabwe international.

Regardless of these slight issues, it was an outstanding performance from Nakamba, and he was integral in this performance.

He will most likely see minutes in the League Cup fixture against Chelsea on Wednesday so this performance will hopefully give him a well-deserved confidence boost ahead of this. – Birmingham Mail

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National

Chidzivo, Waison take top honors at Vic Falls Marathon

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Blessing Waison and Fortunate Chidzivo took top honors at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon yesterday, as Zimbabwean long-distance runners excelled at Africa’s most prestigious road race.

Econet General Manager – Marketing, Mrs Tariro Muchena (left), and Finance Director, Mr Chengeto Moyo, present the winner’s prize to men’s marathon champion, Blessing Waison, at the 2025 Econet Victoria Falls Marathon, while Victoria Falls Mayor, Mr Prince Moyo, looks on

The event, which featured athletes from over 40 countries, saw Waison storm to victory in the men’s full marathon, clocking 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 16 seconds. He narrowly beat decorated Olympian Isaac Mpofu in a thrilling duel that brought thousands of spectators to their feet.

Godwin Katakura followed closely in third, completing an all-Zimbabwean podium sweep in the 42.2km race. The trio’s success came with bigger rewards this year, after Econet Wireless doubled the total prize purse to $50,000.

Waison walked away with $3,000, while Mpofu and Katakura earned $2,000 and $1,500, respectively.

In the women’s marathon, Chidzivo delivered a commanding performance, clocking 2 hours and 42 minutes to claim another major title in her illustrious career. Ethel Pangiso and Phillipa Dube completed the women’s podium in second and third place, respectively.

Rising star Wayne Kabondo turned heads in the men’s 21km half marathon, overcoming a formidable field to finish in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Kabondo pocketed $1,500 for his efforts.

In the women’s 21km race, Caroline Mhandu crossed the line in 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 50 seconds, ahead of Miriam Sibanda and Melody Kaseke.

The marathon’s inclusive spirit was evident in the 18km Specially Abled Races, which saw uplifting performances across different categories. Godknows Hamadziripi claimed the men’s tricycle title, while Samson Muroyiwa won the handcycle event.

Among the women, Stella Jongwe triumphed in the handcycle race, and Ratidzo Tomu took first position in the tricycle category.

Organized by Econet Wireless in partnership with Wild Horizons, the 2025 edition drew over 5,000 participants and spectators from more than 40 countries. The marathon route, widely regarded as Africa’s most scenic, winds through game reserves and offers spectacular views of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.

https://x.com/vic_falls_live/status/1941861569450725776?s=46

Beyond the races, this year’s event featured live music, traditional dance, health expos, and community wellness activities.

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Zimparks launches elephant culling program

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

In a bid to address the growing elephant population in Save Valley Conservancy, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has issued permits for a controlled elephant management exercise.

The exercise, slated to commence shortly, aims to cull an initial 50 elephants from the conservancy, which is currently home to 2,550 elephants – more than three times the ecological carrying capacity of 800 elephants.

According to ZimParks, the conservancy has been struggling to cope with the swelling elephant population, which has put a strain on the wildlife habitat and resources. Over the past five years, the conservancy has translocated 200 elephants to other areas, including Hurungwe and Sapi, in an effort to manage the population.

Zimparks says the controlled culling exercise is expected to provide relief to the conservancy’s ecosystem, while also benefiting local communities.

Elephant meat from the exercise will be distributed to local communities while the ivory will be kept by the State.

In a statement, ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo emphasized the authority’s commitment to responsible and sustainable wildlife management.

“We remain committed to ensuring that our wildlife resources are managed in a responsible and sustainable manner, for the benefit of present and future generations.”

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In the community

Hwange police seek public’s help in locating missing teen

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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.

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