BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
WARRIORS star Jordan Zemura’s stunning rise at AFC Bournemouth has continued after the gifted defender was nominated for the Player of the Month award at the English Championship side.
The 21-year-old has been in brilliant form for the promotion chasing Cherries who are currently enjoying an unbeaten start to the English Championship with three draws and two wins in their first five matches.
Zemura has not missed a minute of action in Bournemouth’ opening five games, ever since he was called in to fill the gap following Jack Stacey’s injury on the eve of the Championship season.
The London-born Zimbabwean is one of the four Cherries players who have been nominated for the Player of the Month Award for August at the club.
The other players up for the coveted gong are central midfielder Phillip Billing, striker Dominic Solanke and winger Jaidon Anthony.
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The winners of the award will be determined by voting in Bournemouth’s Twitter poll.
While announcing Zemura’s nomination Bournemouth noted how the Zimbabwe international has formed an impressive partnership with fellow Cherries academy graduate Antony who plays left wing.
The pair have enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season in the English second tier league thus far which has earned them plaudits from the club’s fans and more importantly their coach Scott Parker.
“Inseparable off the pitch, Anthony’s success has been mirrored by that of house mate Jordan Zemura, the two young guns sprouting dynamism and creativity down the left flank,”the club said in a statement on Friday night.
“Zemura has also started the campaign with the first five EFL starts of his career and has looked entirely at home in the left-back role. Playing a big part in the side’s two clean sheets, the Zimbabwean causes plenty of his own danger with his bustling runs into the opposition’s box.”
Zemura’s nomination for the club’s Player of the Month award comes after he was early this week named in the English Championship Team of the Week for the first time.
His selection was in recognition of his standout display as the Cherries maintained their unbeaten start to the English Championship football in a goalless draw at Hull City last Saturday.
The versatile young defender who is comfortable at left back or in midfield is not part of the Zimbabwe national team which kicked off their World Cup qualifying campaign with a goalless draw against South Africa on Friday.
Zemura will also be missing in action when the Warriors take on Ethiopia away on Tuesday after he was forced to withdraw from the national team squad as both Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are on the UK Government’s red list for travel amid coronavirus restrictions.
Asked by the Bournemouth Daily Echo to clarify Zemura’s situation, Parker replied: “He won’t go, no. Jordan won’t go away with the internationals due to playing in a red country.
“He won’t travel with them.
“In terms of well-being, he would have to come back and would have to be quarantined, so he won’t go away with Zimbabwe.”
Should Zemura have travelled for Zimbabwe’s fixtures, he would have had to undergo 10 days’ quarantine on his return.
The withdrawal also aligns with the EFL’s decision to follow the Premier League in announcing their clubs would not be releasing players for international commitments in red list countries.
Parker added: “First and foremost, (it’s) safety of the player and our player.
“The Government have decided that certain countries are red countries and they are red countries for a reason – because obviously they feel they are unsafe.
“Also, of course, he would have to come back and quarantine, so I think it’s best for everyone.”
Zemura has played twice at senior level for Zimbabwe, having made his debut against Algeria in November last year.