SPORTS REPORTER
WARRIORS captain Knowledge Musona provided two assists as his Saudi Pro League Al-Tai FC bounced back from a goal down to beat nine-time league champions Al Nassr 2 – 1 at Prince Abdul Aziz bin Musa’ed Stadium on Friday night.
The win lifted Musona and his struggling side off the bottom of the 16-team league into 14th place tied on points with Al-Batin and Al-Fate.
Al-Tai are one place away from safety , two matches before the competition reaches the halfway stage.
Musona has scored two goals in 10 appearances for his side since his move from Belgian giants Anderlecht for 300 000 Euros as he heads towards the twilight of his career.
Deployed as an attacking midfielder by Chilean coach José Luis Sierra, Musona orchestrated the equalizer which was scored by Angolan born Swiss striker Cephas Malele seven minutes after the break.
The 31-year-old Zimbabwean would also be the provider for the 92nd winner by Brazilian midfielder Dener Gomes Clemente which completed a memorable comeback by the league newcomers.
Al Nassr had taken the lead on the strike of halftime courtesy of a goal by Cameroonian striker Vincent Aboubakar.
Al-Tai’s next assignment is in the Kings Cup of Champions away to fellow league strugglers Al-Taawoun on December 21 and will be looking to put up another strong performance before joining Warriors camps for the Afcon finals.
Musona is scheduled to lead the Warriors at the Afcon finals which are barely a month away and good form for the player will be sweet music to the technical department which is likely to be led by Norman Mapeza.
However, Zimbabwe’s participation at the Afcon finals in Cameroon continues to hang in the balance following the suspension of the Zifa board by the SRC, a move that may attract a Fifa ban if interpreted as government interference.
Zimbabwe was drawn in Group B alongside Senegal, Guinea and Malawi.