The Sunday News
Innocent Kurira
DURING the just-ended week, Zifa announced the Warriors team for the upcoming four-nation tournament that will be played in Malawi later this month.
There was a surprise inclusion in the national team that will be under the tutelage of FC Platinum gaffer, Norman Mapeza.
The surprise came in the form of 28-year-old England-based striker Macaulay Bonne, who was recalled to the squad for the first time since 2021.
The latest call-up marks the first time in three years that he has been called to the national team and in his last call-up, the three-time capped striker did not show up.
This time around he has shown interest in answering the Warriors call-up if his social media updates are anything to go by.
His last appearance with the Warriors came in 2017 in a friendly match against Namibia.
With a lot of excitement on Bonne’s inclusion to the Warriors squad, many have been wondering who this player is that has caught the attention of many football enthusiasts in Zimbabwe.
Zifa
The Cambridge United forward was born in England to Zimbabwean parents, he was eligible to play for both the two nations and he chose Zimbabwe, receiving his first call-up in 2014 ahead of the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers.
Bonne made his debut for Zimbabwe in a friendly match against Morocco on 16 November 2014 and had a dream start to his international career, scoring the opening goal after 18 minutes when he slotted the ball between the legs of Morocco’s shotstopper, Yassine Bono.
However, despite his debut goal, Zimbabwe went on to lose the game 2–1.
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In August 2015, he was called up by the senior Zimbabwe side for their 2017 Afcon Qualifiers against Guinea on 6 September, however, he pulled out of the squad due to club commitments.
He was called up again in March 2016 for the qualifying match against Swaziland but was forced to withdraw from the Warriors squad due to passport technicalities.
He went on to make his first senior appearance in November 2017 in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Lesotho and days later, he played as a second-half substitute in the Warriors’ 3-1 defeat against Namibia.
At club level, Bonne signed for League Two club Gillingham before he was loaned to League One team, Cambridge United in February.
His loan spell is set to last until the end of the season and at Cambridge, he was united with Neil Harris, who had brought him to Gillingham.
In the ongoing League One season, Bonne has played 10 matches for Cambridge United and is yet to find the back of the net. Cambridge United are sitting on position 20 of the 24-team standings with 39 points.
