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Steven Gerrard might give Nakamba lifeline after huge blow

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BY JOHN TOWNLEY

Marvelous Nakmaba has quickly become the forgotten man in Aston Villa’s squad just nine months after being focal to Steven Gerrard’s bright start in Premier League management.

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The Zimbabwean played back-to-back 90 minutes for the first time in over two years when he starred in Villa’s impressive wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace in Gerrard’s first two games in charge last year.

Playing a key role in Gerrard’s system, Nakamba stepped up and helped Villa escape a wretched five-match losing rut.

“For me it’s always about the collective, as a team, if we do well as a team then afterwards, personal (plaudits) as well,” the midfielder said after winning the man of the match award for his display in the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park. “It doesn’t matter like that to me, as long as the team does well, it’s more important for me.”

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Nakamba started three more games under Gerrard: against Manchester City, Leicester City and Liverpool, before being handed a cruel injury blow at Anfield that would disrupt the best form he had shown in claret and blue since making the switch from Club Brugge in the summer of 2019.

He missed four months of action after recovering from knee surgery which is the longest injury absence of his career.

The 28-year-old said during his rehabilitation: “Injuries are frustrating at any time, but I’d just won the Player of the Month for the club and I was getting more game time.

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Steven Gerrard and his new team came in and I’m grateful for the chance I got from them.

“I was enjoying the training and improving. Unfortunately, I got the injury and now I have to work hard on coming back stronger.”

Villa’s luck with injuries has not improved over the last month with new signing Diego Carlos ruled out for the majority of the season and Boubacar Kamara set to mis roughly two months of action after sustaining a knee injury of his own.

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It could open the door for Nakamba to win his place back in Gerrard’s squad after being used sparingly since his return from injury back in April.

Nakamba has only been included in Villa’s match day squad for three of the club’s opening seven Premier League games, while he didn’t travel with the team to face Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.

With Kamara set to miss Villa’s next eight games before the World Cup, Gerrard could turn to Luiz to play a holding midfield role, while Nakamba offers defensive stability too.

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Speaking on the impact of Nakamba in the early stages of his tenure, Gerrard said: “He’s been fantastic, he’s trained extremely well.

“ 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.”

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And Nakamba was indeed a key component in the opening games of the Gerrard era.

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

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

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Following his injury, Nakamba’s absence was felt as Luiz was forced to operate in a deeper role to the number eight position that he can flourish in.

When he did return to fitness, Gerrard was delighted to have him back in contention to play games.

“[I am] extremely happy because when we came into this job, we had the right boost and bounce, and we found a bit of consistency in the team early on. Marv was a really big part of that,” Gerrard said.

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“He’s still got a bit to go in terms of where he’s at physically. But the part he played in how we wanted the team to look, he’s been missed. We can’t get him up to speed quick enough.

“This week, we’ve pushed him and he’s had extra training. He’s an important player for us.

“So, when we get him back capable of 90 minutes at this level, I’m sure he’ll be a big help to the team.” – BirminghamLive

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National

Four men on the run after allegedly killing man over relative’s death

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BY STAFF REPORTER 

Four people from Silobela are being sought by the Zimbabwe Republic Police for their alleged involvement in a gruesome murder that took place on Sunday.

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The police are investigating the murder of 21-year-old Thandelwenkosi Moyo, who was allegedly killed by the four suspects after being accused of killing their relative.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at Munklenuck Village, Inyathi.

The accused have been identified as Nyoka, Zizimuzi, Mboya, and Aweli.

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The police report states that the four suspects took turns to attack the victim with booted feet and a sharp object, resulting in his death at the scene.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is appealing to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward and report to the nearest police station.

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Parliament grills minister on Zimbabwe’s climate and food security policies

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week, the Parliament saw a robust exchange as Members of Parliament (MPs) probed the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement, Anxious Masuka, about the government’s plans to enhance food security amidst climate challenges. The session highlighted both the progress and the hurdles faced in rehabilitating irrigation schemes across the country.

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Addressing Food Security

Thusani Ndou initiated the discussion by questioning the government’s food security policies in light of reported irrigation schemes operating at a mere 20% capacity. He emphasized the critical food shortages resulting from this inefficiency, despite the season’s good rainfall. In his response, Minister Masuka underscored that the government considers food security a cornerstone of its agenda and described ongoing efforts to combat the effects of climate change on agriculture.

“We regard food security everywhere and every day as one of the philosophies of the Second Republic,” Masuka stated, explaining the government’s commitment to “climate-proof” agriculture. This involves implementing the Pfumvudza/Intwasa model, which promotes sustainable agricultural practices tailored to the environment, and accelerating irrigation development.

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Masuka announced ambitious targets to complete the development of 26 000 hectares of smallholder irrigation across 460 schemes by 2030, with 19 000 hectares already achieved. However, he acknowledged that regional disparities mean that some areas, particularly Bulilima and Binga, continue to face significant food shortages, despite the government’s commitment to addressing these needs.

Irrigation Scheme Oversight

Further inquiries from MPs, including Phathisiwe Machangu, Lupane east, raised concerns about idle irrigation schemes and the government’s policies for monitoring their functionality. The Minister acknowledged the historical context of these schemes, noting that many were established during colonial times as “uneconomic, unviable units.” He highlighted a new initiative aimed at transforming these uneconomical schemes into viable business units by restructuring governance and management practices.

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“We are now using the Vision 2030 Accelerator Model to pool smaller plots into larger, economically viable units, thereby improving their sustainability and profitability,” he explained. The Ministry has successfully onboarded 341 out of the 460 irrigation schemes onto this new model.

Budget and Development Challenges

Others further pressed the Minister on the apparent lack of follow-through on government budgets allocated for these irrigation schemes. Masuka expressed disappointment over budget allocations, revealing that as of June, only 37% of the requested resources had been disbursed.

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He urged Parliament to advocate for the importance of developing irrigation infrastructure, especially in light of changing climate conditions. “It is saddening that we have resources lying idle while communities suffer as candidates for social welfare,” he lamented.

Regarding the quality of irrigation contractors and value for money, Masuka acknowledged ongoing assessments by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. He assured the MPs that procurement regulations were in place to ensure contractors deliver quality work but left the door open for evidence of failures to be addressed.

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Jamaica reigns supreme as South Africa and Botswana athletes fall short in dramatic 100m showdown

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BY TIMES LIVE

Jamaica returned to the top of the 100m podium at the world championships in Tokyo on Sunday, but South Africa — even with two dogs in the fight — missed out yet again.

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Gift Leotlela finished fifth in 9.95 sec and veteran Akani Simbine ended seventh in 10.04 while Oblique Seville clocked a 9.77 personal best to become the first Jamaican to win the global 100m crown in 10 years after Usain Bolt at Beijing 2015.

His countryman, Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, was second in 9.82 and brash American Noah Lyles, the Olympic and defending champion, third in 9.89.

The final featured two Jamaicans, two Americans and two South Africans, but it was the two traditional powerhouses that dominated the podium.

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Looked at another way, the final had four men from the Americas against four Africans, and with Kenny Bednarek ending fourth, it was the men from the Americas who took the first four spots.

Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, the Olympic 200m champion and the 100m silver medallist from Budapest 2023, was disqualified for a false start. Nigerian Kayinsola Ajayi was sixth in 10.00.

Yet, had Leotlela repeated the 9.87 he ran in the heats on Saturday he would have taken third. Still, the 27-year-old, who has struggled with injuries for much of the past four years, can be happy with three consecutive sub-10 runs at the showpiece.

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But Simbine, who took the 60m bronze at the world indoor championships in March, looked as if he had mistimed his season.

He went on the indoor circuit early in the year in a bid to improve his start, which meant sacrificing an important training block that he subsequently switched to June and July.

The 31-year-old was on fire before the break, but since returning he never looked sharp.

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He’s competed in seven major 100m finals — three Olympics and four world championships — and never reached a podium. Having previously finished fourth or fifth, this was also his worst finish in a final.

In the semifinals earlier, just like it happened at the Olympics on the same track four years ago, Simbine had to wait to find out if he had won a spot in the final after finishing third in the first heat in 9.96.

Only the first two of the three heats advanced automatically, with the two fastest losers going through.

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Leotlela ended third in the final semifinal in 9.97.

But still, two South Africans in the final should augur well for the 4x100m relay next weekend.

The only other South African in a medal race on the day, Adriaan Wildschutt, didn’t have the kick at the tail end of a slow 10,000m, crossing the line in 28 min 59.47 sec to finish 10th to match his position at last year’s Paris Olympics.

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Frenchman Jimmy Gressier won a sprint finish in 28:55.77, ahead of Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha (28:55.83) and Andreas Almgren of Sweden (29:56.02).

Earlier, Zakithi Nene, the fastest man over 400m in the world this year with his 43.76 from May, won his heat in 44.34 to advance to Tuesday’s semifinal.

But American Jacory Patterson, No 2 on the list, threw down the gauntlet by jogging over the final metres of his heat to clock the fastest time of the heats, 43.90.

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Khaleb McRae, the second of three American qualifiers, was second quickest in the heats in 44.25.

Then came Nene, and behind him lurk other dangermen, like Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori (44.36) and Rusheen McDonald of Jamaica (44.38), who limped off the track.

Countryman Lythe Pillay delivered a solid performance to advance to the semifinals with a 44.73 season’s best, finishing second in his heat behind Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, fourth at last year’s Olympics.

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But with the US getting four men into the next round and Botswana and Britain three, the South African 4x400m team will have their work cut out next weekend to make the relay podium.

Miranda Coetzee and Shirley Nekhubui failed to advance beyond the women’s 400m heats and Brian Raats was unable to clear the bar in the qualifying round of the men’s high jump.

SOURCE| TIMES LIVE

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