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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter

FRANCE-based Zimbabwean footballer Marshall Munetsi was on target for Stade de Reims when they drew 1-1 against away at Montpellier at Stade de la Mosson in a Ligue 1 encounter played on Sunday.

It was Munetsi’s second goal of the season having found his first of the 2022/23 championship in August when Reims won 4-2 away at Angers.

On Sunday, Munetsi who replaced 19-year-old Mali international in the 58th minute gave Reims an 87th minute lead before their hosts equalised in injury time through Sacha Delaye. 

The game against Montpellier was Munetsi’s second since recovering from a recurring thigh muscle strain. A fortnight ago, he came in from the bench to play the last 30 minutes in the 0-0 draw against Lorient.

Munetsi’s side go for the World Cup break sitting on position 11 with 17 points after 15 games and return to action on December 28 after the finals in Qatar.

The World Cup kicks off on November 20 and will end on December 18.

Also going for the World Cup break on a high is Spain-based forward Tino Kadewere who scored on his debut for Real Mallorca when thy clobbered CD Autol 6-0 in a Copa Del Rey cup game.

Kadewere, who had to endure a long wait before getting a start at Real Mallorca scored in the 88th minute as Mallorca ran riot over CD Autol at Estadio La Planilla. 

The former Harare City player was making his first appearance almost three months after making the switch to the Spanish top-flight side from French club Lyon on a season-long loan deal. Kadewere could have made his debut earlier but a muscle injury kept him out for several weeks.

He returned to action earlier in the month but was an unused substitute in Mallorca’s two previous games in La Liga.

Khama Billiat started for Kaizer Chiefs against Orlando Pirates in the Carling Cup on Saturday

In England, Jordan Zemura played the entire match as Bournemouth cruised to a 3-0 triumph against Everton. The Zimbabwean left back was making his ninth start in 15 English Premiership matches for “The Cherries”. 

Zemura will be hoping to continue as a starter when EPL resumes on December 26 after the World Cup finals.

Aston Villa’s Marvelous Nakamba will also be praying for a change of fortunes after the World Cup and bounce back into the team. Nakamba, who is yet to make an appearance in the EPL this season failed to make it into Villa’s squad that won 2-1 away at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Former Warriors skipper Knowledge Musona made his eighth start for Al-Tai in Saudi Arabia’s topflight league when they suffered a 2-3 home defeat to Al Hilal. Musona, who has three goals all scored when Al Tai beat Al Khaleej at the beginning of October played the entire game at the weekend.

Al Tai are seventh on the table with 15 points from eight matches and the Zimbabwean international will be back in action on December 12.

Khama Billiat with his Kaizer Chiefs teammates during the Carling Cup on Saturday

The South African Premiership is also on a break and resumes on December 30. Khama Billiat started for Kaizer Chiefs when they took on Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals of the Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Pirates defeated Chiefs 6-5 on penalties after the match concluded 0-0 in 90 minutes. Amakhosi finished third with a 4-2 on penalties win over AmaZulu. — @ZililoR