Abel Ndooka
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Warriors stand to benefit from their captain Marvelous Nakamba’s rejuvenated form at English Championship side Luton Town.
The 30-year-old has struggled to replicate his best form which saw him help the Hatters to punch their ticket to the English Premier League in 2023 when he was on loan from Aston Villa.
It is those flawless performances which saw him earning a permanent move to Luton Town but a nasty injury in December of the same year meant he missed the chance to play a part in Luton’s bid to survive relegation.
He has still struggled to assert himself in the team after his recovery, starting only four matches since October, thanks to his injury susceptibility and general dip in form.
He has not been the industrious Nakamba of old even in the national team although he has not been far off his standards.
However, with Luton Town manager Rob Edwards electing to sit him down and have an honest heart-to-heart discussion, Nakamba looks like taking the session as fuel to light the flame again.
The midfielder was back to his best when he played for almost the rest of the game in the Hatters 1-0 defeat to Norwich City on New Year’s Day.
Starting on the bench, the Warriors skipper was called on just 11 minutes after kick-off to replace the injured Jordan Clark and Edwards expected him to deliver as a follow-up to their chat.
And the Bantu Rovers product was full of life in the entire game, playing with the authority he is known for to leave Edwards a satisfied man.
As per Luton Today, Edwards hailed Nakamba’s contribution despite eventually losing the game.
“I was really pleased with him. We had a good conversation yesterday, Marv. I hope (he can reach his best form again), he’s a really big player for us,” said Edwards. “It’s been hard to get him back to his best, but a really good chat and a great response from him.”
Zimbabweans will be hoping that the skipper keeps on grinding and brings the top form to the Warriors fold.
Michael Nees and his men boys have a chance to breathe life into their 2026 World Cup qualification which resumes in March.
Zimbabwe have two points from four games but can mathematically win the group if they do well in their last six games against Benin (twice), Lesotho (away), Nigeria (away), South Africa (home) and Rwanda (home).
Online Reporter
